Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to service connection issues. A new VA examination is needed to determine if there is a relationship between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board found that the evidence did not show a compensable level of disability for his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a right thumb disability was denied as there is no evidence of current disability.,Service connection for OSA was granted based on the opinion linking it to service, despite an initial denial in 2019.,Left ear hearing loss was not found due to lack of current disability meeting VA criteria.,Right ear hearing loss was granted as noise exposure is conceded and there are STRs documenting threshold shifts.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and right ear hearing loss, finding that the conditions did not meet the criteria for any compensable ratings.

The Veteran's TDIU was not based on a single service-connected disability alone, and he does not have a single 100% rated service-connected disability with additional disabilities independently ratable at 60%. Therefore, SMC for housebound status is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of current disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to missing treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete medical opinions that did not consider the apparent threshold shift documented in the Veteran's service medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to errors in the decision-making process and the need to obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The issue of secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction to include as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss began during service and is linked to in-service hazardous noise exposure. The decision also acknowledges that VA conceded the Veteran was exposed to noise during service as a pilot.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, specifically his MOS as a communications security devices equipment technician and in-service noise exposure. However, the VA examiner's opinion was inadequate due to not addressing continuity of hearing loss since service or delayed onset. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion.

The appellant has withdrawn their appeal regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right Achilles tendonitis, and right toe fifth digit injury.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and major depressive disorder, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the current disability is related to in-service noise exposure.