Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's hearing was normal at separation, but he reported noise exposure during service. His current hearing loss is not linked to service, and his tinnitus is not related to his hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, bilateral foot disability, back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right knee condition are related to service. However, due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners regarding these conditions, the cases have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claim of service connection for colon cancer with metastasis due to conflicting DD214 records.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist. Additional VA examinations are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, including any potential aggravation by service-connected sarcoidosis or exposure to toxins during military service.

The Board has denied a higher initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing impairment did not exceed noncompensable levels during both the initial and increased rating periods.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including left and right ankle disabilities, residuals of traumatic brain injury, vertigo, and cold exposure-related disabilities. The issues related to cervical spine, shoulder, wrist, low back, hip, knee, pes planus, hallux valgus, and headache were remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to consider the Veteran's vertigo and dizziness complaints related to his right ear hearing loss.

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

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining private treatment records and VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no current diagnosis of hearing loss in either ear.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of the November 2023 VA audiological evaluation, which may have been compromised by improper testing conditions and unprofessional behavior from the examiner. The Veteran should be afforded another VA audiological evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a disability according to VA standards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a hearing loss disability due to insufficient evidence of a VA compensable hearing loss condition during the applicable claim period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his right vestibular unilateral weakness, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board denied eligibility for attorney's fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a January 2023 Rating Decision, as the decision was not issued following a request for higher-level review or an increased rating claim form.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied due to lack of current disability. The Veteran's IBS with abdominal adhesions is currently rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable diagnostic code.,For her service-connected appendectomy scar, a VA examination is needed to determine the number and nature of scars related to her appendectomy.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at a noncompensable level prior to June 6, 2022. Effective from that date, the Veteran is now rated at a 10 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is restored to a 10 percent rating effective September 15, 2020.,Service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and tension headaches are granted with effective dates of April 15, 2012.