Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted and a rating assigned, so the Board cannot consider this issue further.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed because the issue was not properly raised in a timely manner and no valid rating decision exists to appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus, broken sternum condition, kidney disability, type 2 diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension have been granted service connection. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were denied as they did not meet VA criteria for a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss had its onset during his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss have been dismissed due to the failure to timely file a Notice of Disagreement within one year of the June 2021 rating decision.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable, with the VA examiner finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the audiometric results and the Veteran's subjective complaints about mask use.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and the Board grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, emphysema, and tinnitus, have been found to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since October 16, 2023.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be the 'but-for' cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, granting service connection for OSA. The appeal regarding a proposed reduction in disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.

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

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30% prior to May 31, 2019. The Board denied an increased rating for his asthma and denied SMC based on housebound criteria prior to February 29, 2020. The effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss sensorineural was dismissed because the December 2, 2021 letter informing him of his previous denial did not constitute a valid appeal.

The Board has determined that the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a left hand disorder, a right hand disorder, a low back disorder, a left knee disorder, and a right knee disorder, as well as migraine headaches, must be remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's specific disability pictures will need to be evaluated by VA examiners.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and left ear hearing loss are related to service, but further development is needed due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran must be provided with additional records from Dr. A.G. and her VA primary care provider.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraines due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, including in-service noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The AOJ is instructed to obtain addendum opinions addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, considering his continued exposure to noise after the separation examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a thick heart disability, COPD, and right ear hearing loss have been dismissed due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182.