Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as the withholding of VA compensation benefits to recoup her separation pay was proper, and no hardship waiver could be granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for heart condition, lung condition, and left leg puncture due to VA medical care.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted with an effective date of January 13, 2015.

The Board has determined that there are missing service treatment records and personnel records from the Veteran's periods of active service and Army Reserve membership. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea need to be clarified based on the Veteran's discharge or release status.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran during an applicable evidence submission period warrants readjudication of his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded to allow the RO to consider this new evidence in its decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by service. Service connection was denied for tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disabilities as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied due to lack of a medical nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection for compensation purposes.,Service connection is denied for a sleep disability due to insufficient evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, obstructive sleep apnea with pleural disease, and fibromyalgia is denied. The VA has remanded the claims of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 13, 2019.,The Veteran's tinnitus is already at its maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that both conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The full results of the October 2019 audiological evaluation need to be obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and has denied his claim for service connection. The tinnitus issue is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, but his tinnitus was related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The VA medical opinion is inadequate as it did not consider the available evidence, including in-service audiometric data.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically his acknowledged in-service noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of hearing loss in both ears and a right paratracheal region soft tissue mass due to duty-to-assist errors. Additional evidence is needed, including VA examination reports.