Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for a new examination to assess its current severity, and the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded due to potential impact on the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss due to service-connected acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, specifically noise exposure associated with being a weapons mechanic. However, due to a lack of an addendum medical opinion addressing this issue, the case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, cervical spine disorder, headaches, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his PTSD, migraine headaches, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for an effective date prior to February 12, 2021, for TDIU and DEA benefits. The effective date of TDIU was set at February 12, 2021, due to the receipt of a PTSD claim within one year of the initial grant of TDIU. For DEA eligibility, as there was no 'total' rating prior to February 12, 2021, the appeal for earlier effective dates is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural error in not considering the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to August 10, 2022 on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of August 10, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss or any increase in the disability rating for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure and began during active service. The decision does not assign a specific rating or effective date.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to the lack of evidence linking it to service. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus disability and a rating in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that any current sinus condition was related to active duty, and there were no findings of any sinus or nasal complaints or disabilities during service or within one year following separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including fibromyalgia, generalized anxiety disorder (also claiming other specific depressive disorder), muscle joint pain of the right knee, gastric ulcers, chronic fatigue syndrome, tension headaches, respiratory insufficiency, restless leg syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and right hip strain. The decision is based on reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.