Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, both related to exposure to herbicide agents during service. Service connection for diabetic nephropathy is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 and diverticulosis have been granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, deviated nasal septum, left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and colon polyps are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in communication and procedural issues, specifically regarding a request for a telephone call. The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss is now pending again.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity varicose veins, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no current disability of hearing loss in the left ear for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for leg disorder, hypertension, gastritis, and diabetes due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and a right knee condition are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. Additional medical opinions are needed to address the onset of these conditions in service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of bilateral hearing loss as insufficient evidence exists to make a fully informed decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist and an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability. The claim will be reconsidered with additional evidence and a new examination.

The Board has determined that service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service noise exposure resulting in current hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has remanded all service connection claims due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records, particularly from facilities in the Bronx, Puerto Rico, and Gainesville.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma. As a result, the claim is granted.

The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss was incurred during service and has continued to the present. The Board granted service connection for this condition, but did not assign a rating as it is currently rated at 10%.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The Veteran was exposed to noise during service, but there is no objective evidence of permanent auditory damage on active duty from noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is incurred in service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection on all six issues due to the NOD not being timely filed.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 12, 2021 for the grant of service connection for kidney cancer, s/p nephroureterectomy, and residual scars, s/p left nephroureterectomy. The Veteran also received SMC based on housebound criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and her claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.