Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss are rated appropriately, but his service-connected left-hand disability is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the case.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions had their onset during active duty due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ear infections, and residuals of a head injury have been readjudicated. The claim for right ear hearing loss on an aggravation basis has also been granted.,The Board found that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the pre-existing right ear hearing loss disability was aggravated by service and whether the left ear hearing loss began during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for an increased rating of bilateral hearing loss, and the Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's lay reports supported his claim of in-service noise exposure leading to tinnitus, which the Board found as likely as not to have begun during service and continued thereafter. However, there was no evidence of a current hearing disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied a compensable rating.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on it being secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was denied a compensable rating prior to March 14, 2023.,A rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss from March 14, 2023 is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle arthritis and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is present during and after service.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied as there is no current evidence of the required threshold shift in hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, tinnitus, hearing loss, and hypertension. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right foot disability manifested by pain, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible lay reports of continuous symptoms since separation from active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will consider any additional VA treatment records that may be relevant.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for tinnitus prior to May 26, 2024 due to inadequate examination.