Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ED, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and hearing loss. The cases are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of an addendum medical opinion addressing the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his active service, specifically noise exposure. The Veteran is seeking service connection for both conditions based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of Meniere's syndrome, with aural fullness, hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as for eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The effective date assigned was February 13, 2012.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the average hearing acuity in both ears being at Level I and IV respectively. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition based on VA's established criteria for evaluating hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus claim should be remanded for further examination and opinion. The issues of service connection for both tinnitus and hearing loss are within scope, but a VA examination is needed to address the theories of entitlement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss began during his active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right shoulder disability, a bilateral knee disability, and a right foot disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's reports of noise exposure during active duty are considered, but the current diagnoses do not align with conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to in-service noise exposure. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeals by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it was present during his military service and there is no evidence of pre-service hearing issues or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, and will consider evidence submitted after the May 2021 decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to new and relevant evidence having been submitted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle degenerative arthritis, and traumatic brain injury have been returned to the RO for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran contends that his current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, but the VA examiner did not provide a clear rationale for their conclusion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service personnel and treatment records may be missing, leading to a remand for obtaining these records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to this lack of information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no current disability in either ear as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.,The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for left hip condition has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.,The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for difficulty breathing, shortness of breath has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.,The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for left leg peripheral neuropathy (also claimed as bilateral leg cramps) has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.,The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for right leg peripheral neuropathy (also claimed as bilateral leg cramps) has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.,The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for plantar fasciitis (also claimed as bilateral foot pain) has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.