Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the mailing of notice of the examination was sent to the correct address, which constitutes a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and is remanding the case for further development of records, including service treatment records, VA medical center records, and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for OSA and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression), allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, neck disability, colostomy, diverticulosis, bilateral foot condition, heart disability, hemorrhoids, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, back disability, colon polyps, prostate disability, and vertigo were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was manifested by no more than a Level I hearing loss in his right ear and Level I hearing loss in his left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board denied the claim for an increased disability evaluation.

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

The Veteran seeks a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, which was granted as secondary to hepatitis. The effective date is set at May 10, 2018, and the current maximum rating of 100% is from February 22, 2021. The Board finds that additional VA records are needed to support this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee pain, as well as bilateral hearing loss due to potential issues with the evidence considered in the initial decisions.

The Veteran's hearing acuity was rated at Level I bilaterally, resulting in a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 were both granted effective as of October 5, 2020. The Board denied the requests for earlier effective dates.

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

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to review private treatment records and inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted effective August 3, 2021. The grant of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits also became effective on the same date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and opinions.

The Veteran's treatment at a non-VA facility was not for an emergency condition and VA facilities were feasibly available, leading to the denial of payment or reimbursement.