Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of clarity in the medical opinion provided, which did not consider all relevant facts and threshold shifts found in the service treatment records. The Veteran's hearing loss is related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claim for depression is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his depression is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The Board also denied the Veteran's TDIU claim due to his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The decision is based on continuity of symptomatology and the Veteran's reported noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his service-connected hearing loss results in no worse than Level I hearing acuity in the right and left ears.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus was also denied, as his disability is currently rated at 10 percent under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active-duty service and granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found no prior formal or informal claims for these conditions prior to March 7, 2012.,For the initial compensable rating of bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran is currently rated at a Level XI from July 14, 2014, forward.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the evidence does not show current hearing impairment as defined by VA regulations.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on a finding that the Veteran's tinnitus likely began during his military service, despite conflicting opinions from medical experts.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss began during active service due to noise exposure from military activities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for diverticulosis and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and thoracolumbar spine condition.,Further investigation is needed to determine if there is a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected laryngeal, supraglottic cancer and associated symptoms required immediate medical attention. The ambulance transportation was deemed necessary due to the severity of the respiratory distress and the prudent layperson expectation that delay in seeking treatment would have been hazardous.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied it for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been granted service connection, but a compensable rating is denied.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The Veteran had pre-existing hearing loss at enlistment that was aggravated by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet the VA criteria for disability, and his service connection claim is denied.,The Veteran's IBS is at least as likely as not related to his service. Service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left eye glaucoma, right eye glaucoma, and tinea pedis due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA standards.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD and diagnosed as insomnia disorder, is also denied due to lack of a diagnosis matching the criteria for PTSD or other mental health condition.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as she is already receiving the maximum schedular rating.