Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury related to the condition.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for service connection for shingles due to a lack of evidence considering the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Entitlement to a compensable rating for the left eye condition is denied.,Service connection for depression and/or a mental condition (schizophrenia) is granted with a 100% rating effective October 23, 2018. The claim for service connection for depression and/or a mental condition is dismissed as there remains no case or controversy as to this issue.,Service connection for the right knee condition is denied.,Service connection for hypothyroidism is granted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and vertigo due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to military service.,Service connection was not granted as the appellant did not meet the criteria for service connection under direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had in-service noise exposure and credible statements supporting his belief that his tinnitus began during service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, radiculopathy of the left arm, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, sleep apnea, and right hip disorder are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.,Specifically, a VA examination is needed for each of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of benign prostatic hyperplasia, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, dermatitis, and bilateral foot callus and pain was dismissed due to his withdrawal from appeal. The claim of service connection for kidney disability is remanded.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches and remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hearing loss or tinnitus, and the effective dates were granted based on continuous pursuit of claims since May 2021.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.,There is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to missing medical records from San Juan VA Medical Center.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting VA's criteria. The Board has also remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea and lumbar spine disability, as well as the claim for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as zero percent disabling, and the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for tinnitus and service connection for right ear hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the Veteran's unemployability is due to a lung condition unrelated to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and meniscal tear with symptomatic residuals are rated at 10 percent, while bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected.