Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable during the appeal period, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, finding that observable symptoms began within the first post-service year and have persisted since.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability claim was previously denied in 1992 and cannot be appealed as no new rating decision has been issued since then.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and a need for clarification of the examiner's opinion. The Board will consider any new evidence submitted by the Veteran or his representative.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and a psychiatric disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 90 percent, but the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no legal basis for an increased rating and concludes that referral for extraschedular consideration is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected mental health, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest during or within one year after his military service and were not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right and left knee disabilities, and a cervical spine disability due to inadequate opinions in the prior VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records and arrange for new VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but denied service connection for left ear and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim will be further evaluated with a new examination.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act.,Service connection for right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy and left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy is denied as there is no current disability or evidence of such during service.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied due to lack of current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the hearing. The Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claim at this time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date due to lack of timely appeal or submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee strain, and right hip strain due to a lack of current disability as defined by VA standards. The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding her right knee and right hip disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not support an earlier date than February 23, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and dyspnea (shortness of breath) due to an undiagnosed illness, both found to have onset during active service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not establish a nexus between current hearing impairment and military service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board has denied a higher rating.