Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has restored a 10 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective March 1, 2023, after the reduction was found to be improper due to reasonable doubt regarding improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's service-connected left eye iritis and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error by the AOJ, specifically in obtaining an adequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure, as there is a need for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the initial 100 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss to a 10 percent rating was proper due to clear and unmistakable error in an August 2023 rating decision. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at Level IV, corresponding to a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected as it resulted from in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claims for right shoulder, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to acoustic trauma incurred during active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year of separation. The Board denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current disabilities and in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, but his bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection, with the tinnitus finding based on in-service noise exposure. The left shoulder disability has also been granted a 30 percent evaluation.,No specific evidence of exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War was provided.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected allergic rhinitis has been denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for right-ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's hearing improved during service and there was no evidence of aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for left and right knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, ovary disability, PTSD, and headaches have been dismissed as moot due to the issuance of a July 2023 rating decision granting these conditions.,No current diagnoses were found for the claimed ovary disability, PTSD, or headaches.

The Board has denied service connection for left, right knee conditions and lower back condition. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis are remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for tinnitus is now remanded due to new evidence provided by a private audiologist, which suggests a possible link between active-duty service and the Veteran's tinnitus onset.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but has remanded the issue of right ear hearing loss due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss under VA regulations.