Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and hearing loss, based on in-service noise exposure. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as he does not currently meet the criteria for a current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left ankle arthralgia, a sleep disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder osteoarthritis, right knee disability, right hip OA, left hip OA, cervical spine disability, and hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.,The Veteran's claims were remanded for further action on his hypertension and GERD/hiatal hernia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied, while her TDIU and SMC on the basis of statutory housebound status were granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision on the hearing loss claim is pending as it is being remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at noncompensable, as the evidence does not show it meets or approximates a compensable rating.,The Veteran's fungus infection of the feet has resolved and no treatment was provided during the appeal period. Therefore, he is not entitled to a compensable rating.,Malaria is service-connected but there is no indication that the Veteran received any systemic therapy for his malaria during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed prior to adjudicating the claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further review due to lack of exposure evidence.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective September 1, 2018. The decision also remanded the issue of TDIU prior to September 1, 2018 for referral to the Director of Compensation Services for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus has been granted, and the Board is dismissing it. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability are being remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing acuity warranted a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected kidney cancer residuals and bilateral hearing loss prevent him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU from April 21, 2021. The Board has determined that referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration is required for the period prior to April 21, 2021.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, including obtaining service records and VA examinations for the Veteran's hearing loss, stomach disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent disability manifested by vertigo, and a compensable rating prior to August 27, 2020, and in excess of 60 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to pre-decisional errors regarding audiometric testing and treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the Veteran does not have a current disability meeting VA criteria.,Service connection for fatigue is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable due to having a speech recognition score of 96 and average pure tone thresholds of 33.75, which falls within Level I in the right ear.

The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors in the rating decisions on appeal for hearing loss, tinnitus, neck disability, back disability, and sleep disability. The issues of service connection for these conditions will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left foot condition, right foot condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.,VA also denied entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being housebound due to lack of service-connected disabilities.