Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service hazardous noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the absence of a current disability as defined by VA regulations. The claim for service connection for a back disorder is remanded due to the need for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the Veteran's claims regarding his lumbar spine, cervical spine, left forearm, and left elbow disorders. The Veteran is required to provide any private chiropractic treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The VA must obtain a medical opinion addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including considering the January 1982 and June 1990 audiograms during his reserve service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability and denied service connection for a left knee disability. The right ear hearing loss disability is still being considered, with the RO to adjudicate an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as a presumptive condition due to service, and his bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further examination.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the March 15, 2021 VBA letter rejecting your request for Higher-Level Review is not an appealable decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, diabetes, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The appeal is dismissed as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the earlier effective date of March 2, 2021, for left ear hearing loss service connection is granted.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 28, 2018, for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected conditions including coronary artery disease, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his current hearing acuity does not warrant a higher disability rating.

The Board has determined that there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, requiring a remand to obtain new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is remanded due to unclear employment history prior to October 26, 2023. The AOJ must provide the Veteran with a VA Form 21-8940 and clarify his work history.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, but his hearing loss and migraines were denied. The rating for migraines remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on Diagnostic Code 6100, which pertains specifically to evaluations of hearing loss disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea due to untimeliness. The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, asthma, sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sciatica, right knee disability, left knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability were denied.