Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted in full, effective May 11, 2021. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of readjudication in the September 2019 rating decision. The appeal of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's National Guard service is considered, but an addendum opinion is needed from an appropriate clinician regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeals for an effective date prior to December 27, 2022 and for a higher initial evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for a stomach disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, pes planus (left foot), and left forearm disability are denied. Service connection for sleep apnea remains in dispute.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue regarding a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the withdrawal request by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, strep throat or residuals thereof, left lower extremity shin splints, right lower extremity shin splints, and chronic fatigue syndrome.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and will need an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology, specifically whether they are related to service. A new VA opinion is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The AOJ is directed to obtain a VA medical examination addressing the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions, specifically plantar fasciitis in the left foot.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there was no prior claim filed before October 14, 2019.,New evidence has been received to support the service connection claims for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil and adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells. These claims are now granted.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for PTSD with major depressive disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential errors in obtaining relevant private treatment records and inadequate attempts at corroborating claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The appeal is granted as a timely substantive appeal was filed in response to the June 2020 SOC, reviving the issues of hearing loss rating and service connection for back disorder, feet disorder, and trachea disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran before a decision could be made. The surviving spouse did not file a timely request for substitution within one year of the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis. However, the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy (radiculopathy), left hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral foot disability have all been denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability were denied as he did not show good cause for failing to timely file a supplemental claim after his intent to file expired.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with alcohol use disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).