Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left hip limitation of extension is granted a 10 percent rating from June 14, 2021. The ratings for left ear hearing loss, right foot neuropathy, left foot neuropathy, right great toe scar, and left great toe scar are denied. A compensable rating for right knee scars is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including hypertension, headaches, pseudoseizures, right and left hand neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TDIU are being remanded due to the failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The Board finds good cause for missing the appointments.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), laryngeal cancer, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a total disability rating and SMC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The Board also granted SMC based on housebound status due to service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, dizziness, and right ear hearing loss. The evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current hearing disability.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not support higher ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for dyshidrotic eczema of the hands and feet due to a failure to attend scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it only manifested at levels II in both ears during the appeal period. The case is now remanded to consider whether an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to a lack of an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's application for Legacy S-DVI insurance was denied because the claim was not filed within two years from the date of service connection, and there is no evidence of mental incompetence during the relevant period.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The right ear hearing loss is remanded for further rating consideration.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied, and the Board has decided to remand it due to a duty to assist error regarding Social Security records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and remands the case for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his puretone thresholds did not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore denied service connection. The case is remanded to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of evidence to support these conditions as being related to military noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of adequate VA examination.