Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is currently rated as non-compensable, and the Board finds no evidence to support an increased rating during the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not manifested functional impairment to the extent that a compensable rating may be assigned during the rating period.,For the entire period on appeal, the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service, and the Board finds that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with an average hearing acuity of 53.75 decibels in the right ear and 47.5 decibels in the left ear.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision on tinnitus is based on the Veteran's report of in-service noise exposure and a finding that his tinnitus began during service, while the denial of hearing loss is due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss on a presumptive basis, as the Veteran's tinnitus (which is already service connected) and continuous symptoms of hearing loss since service separation are considered to be related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and potential errors in duty-to-assist. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and skin disability (beyond PFB and associated scarring) are not currently shown.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to acoustic trauma sustained during active service.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea disability is proximately due to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claim for service connection for insomnia is granted, but the Board has remanded the case to consider service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED).

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity is granted a 50% disability rating since January 3, 2021. His bilateral hearing loss is denied restoration of his previous 50% disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 and related diabetic neuropathy have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, consistent with his education and occupational experience. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the physical limitations caused by these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate medical opinion in the January 2022 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, BPPV, athlete's foot, IBS, and sinusitis. The claim for a compensable rating for ED was also denied.,No new evidence or changes in regulations were considered in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for post traumatic Meniere's disease with associated residuals is granted, effective August 13, 2013. The claim for a rating greater than 30 percent prior to March 9, 2021, for Meniere's disease with associated residuals is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left thigh lipoma, left ear hearing loss, and right foot plantar fasciitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not reach a level of equipoise in favor of granting any of these claims.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with an average hearing threshold of 33.75 decibels in both ears.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids were not rated higher than a compensable rating.,Tinnitus was evaluated at the maximum schedular rating available for that disorder.,Bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30 percent effective October 18, 2019.,Cervical spine disability was rated at 50 percent as of October 18, 2019.,Tension headaches were rated at 50 percent as of October 18, 2019.,Lumbar spine disability was not rated higher than 20 percent prior to February 7, 2020.,RUE radiculopathy and LUE radiculopathy were both rated at 20 percent.,Residual lumbar spine scar did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.