Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, hair loss, penile disability, hypertension, heart disability, knee disabilities, and wrist disabilities. The appeals were remanded for further action on some issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service. The Veteran underwent a VA examination, but the opinion was not sufficient as it only considered the absence of hearing loss at separation and did not provide an adequate explanation for why the current hearing loss may be related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the Board finding that his current disability rating of 0 percent is not supported by the evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dismissed his appeal regarding entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability and in-service exposure to loud noise are supported by credible lay evidence of symptoms beginning during service.

The Veteran's asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD have been rated based on their respective conditions. The rating for asbestosis has been granted at 100 percent effective April 20, 2022. The rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted at 20 percent effective April 20, 2022. The Veteran's PTSD remains rated at 70 percent and is denied a higher rating.

The Board has determined that there were pre-decisional errors in the VA examination opinions and duty to assist, and thus the case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence not considered in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which he contends was caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension effective August 10, 2022 under the PACT Act. The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss due to a lack of current diagnoses or causal relationships with service. The Veteran was not awarded compensation for alcohol/substance abuse disorders as it is considered willful misconduct.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is denied as there is no diagnosis of such a condition during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported onset of hearing loss in 1990, which occurred during his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance due to a pre-decisional error in the March 2021 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ear hearing loss due to a lack of notice regarding his right to a hearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of current diagnosis and no nexus between in-service noise exposure and present hearing loss.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraines, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination.