Hearing loss decisions — 2024

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions began during active service.,Service connection was also granted for right ear hearing loss. The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability existed prior to service and not aggravated by military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and prostate cancer, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the current disability is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at noncompensable (0 percent) as the audiometric testing results do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, the claims are being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss condition.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and will schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his bilateral hearing loss had its onset during service or is otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current disability is related to in-service noise exposure and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that the discontinuance of SMC at the housebound rate was improper and has revised the effective date to October 1, 2022. The Veteran's entitlement to SMC benefits is now correct as of this date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for a recurrent right wrist disability, increased ratings for right ganglion cyst excision scar residuals, and ulcerative colitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is causally connected to active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The denial of service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, right ankle disability, left hand disability, and neck disability remains unchanged. The Board has remanded the issues regarding bilateral foot disability and right ankle disability due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board found that the calculation of the combined disability rating from November 5, 2010 to January 26, 2022 was correct at 40 percent. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the AOJ's reliance on the November 2021 VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss had its onset during or is otherwise related to service, including his conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his bilateral hearing loss is denied.