Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to his military noise exposure, leading to the grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, heart condition, dyslipidemia, left hip condition, right hip condition, back condition, respiratory condition, sleep apnea, and carpal tunnel syndrome due to potential exposure to fine particulate matter in Southwest Asia. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as incurred during service. The decision on tinnitus and COPD remains pending due to remand requirements.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have hearing loss for VA purposes and denied service connection for this condition. For tinnitus, the Board found a duty to assist error occurred due to lack of an adequate medical opinion addressing its etiology and remanded the case.

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

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, and IBS were dismissed due to a procedural defect in the AMA review system.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to toxic substances during service and the relationship between his current disabilities and such exposures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of May 31, 2016 for the increased evaluation of 70% for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's symptoms have been reflective of a 70% rating throughout the entire appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip condition and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the October 2007 rating decisions contained CUE. The Veteran's claims were reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The audiogram from May 2010 at Cleveland VAMC needs to be obtained, and a new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's hypertension was not rated as compensable, as his diastolic pressure did not predominantly reach 100 or more.,SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted with an effective date of November 1, 2011.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to PTSD. The decision is binding only with respect to the specific issues decided.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and his bilateral hearing loss, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and IVDS are denied initial evaluations in excess of the current ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are related to service, but due to the Appellant's incarceration, VA was unable to schedule a VA examination. The RO must make substantial efforts to reschedule the Appellant for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and dismissed the appeal for left shoulder disability. The case is remanded for a VA audiological examination to determine if bilateral hearing loss is related to active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board denied the claim for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that there is a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions had their onset during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate etiological opinions in prior VA examinations.