Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, effective from February 17, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding whether in-service noise exposure caused or is otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for low back disorder, eye disorder, and right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran's hearing loss is being reviewed again for possible connection to service exposure.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because he does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable due to the presence of Level I hearing acuity in both ears, which corresponds with no worse than 0% disability.

Service connection for hypercholesterolemia, microscopic hematuria, bilateral hearing loss, tinea versicolor, psoriatic arthritis of the knees, shoulders, and ankles, a bilateral shoulder disability (including psoriatic arthritis and bilateral lateral collateral ligament sprain), and a bilateral ankle disability (including psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis) is denied.,The Veteran's hypercholesterolemia and microscopic hematuria are not service-connected as they were preexisting conditions.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 2, 2019, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence indicating an intent to file a claim before that date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for floaters and torn eye muscles has been dismissed due to the absence of a valid AMA rating decision. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and bilateral pes planus have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,Tinnitus is found to have started during active duty and continues since then. Bilateral hearing loss requires further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current disability level does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the earliest available effective date is February 15, 2023.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders are denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis or causal relationship to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

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

Your service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have already been granted in a separate decision. This appeal is dismissed as there are no longer pending issues.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connection due to noise exposure during service.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, as evidenced by his exposure to hazardous noise during his military duties and his statements regarding the onset of hearing loss in service. As a result, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The appeal for service connection of a bilateral shoulder disability is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, as there is at least a 50% probability that these conditions were incurred during his military service.