Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hearing acuity showed at most Level III impairment in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board denied the claim as there was no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is a current disability and was incurred during his military service due to in-service noise exposure. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is not presumed to have developed these conditions during his service in Afghanistan.

The Board has remanded the claims for a back disability, right ankle disability, and right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the current record. The Veteran's service connection claim remains denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria was granted. The appellant is eligible to the direct payment of attorney fees for these decisions.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was incurred during service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes related to his claimed bilateral hearing loss, left eye disability, and both left and right toenail disabilities. The evidence shows no current hearing loss or vision issues, and no current toe conditions other than fungal infections.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder were denied, while the appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings for either condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cardiac arrhythmia, chronic sinusitis, and thoracolumbar spine pain. The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder claim is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a traumatic brain injury, increased rating for gastrointestinal disorder, and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence of a current disability or causal relationship. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury, illness or event that resulted in the current disability.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for left hip pain is dismissed because it was recharacterized and granted by a December 2021 rating decision. The Veteran's claim remains moot.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss (claimed as bilateral hearing loss) is denied due to the lack of evidence meeting VA disability criteria.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting the VA definition of a hearing loss disability.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to unclear medical evidence and the need for another VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The evidence of record persuasively weighed against finding any causal relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss and his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.,There is no credible medical evidence linking any current right or left knee disabilities to service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are less likely than not related to her in-service duties.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to a lack of service connection for any lumbar condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that no higher rating is warranted for any period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and a need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of November 19, 2019 for the grant of TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.