Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal regarding the timeliness of a May 2023 VA Form 10182 is dismissed because his Motion for Extension of Time was granted, making the form timely.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, an antibiotic resistant system, and a lumbar strain were denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claim for service connection for glandular cysts (also claimed as whole body glandular infection) was granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The AOJ should obtain an addendum VA opinion based on conceded in-service noise exposure, new medical literature, and post-separation noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to missing National Guard records and the need to obtain SSA disability benefits and DFAS records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or manifestations during the period on appeal.,For the issue of secondary service connection, the Veteran's claims for hypertension, renal dysfunction, and right lower extremity sciatica are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, as the current VA examiner's opinion was inadequate and focused on a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board has found that his right ear hearing loss does not have a service connection due to insufficient evidence. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the most probative evidence showing Level I in the right ear and Level II in the left ear. The Board found that this did not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the timeliness of a May 2023 VA Form 10182 is dismissed as his Motion for Extension of Time was granted, making the form timely.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and its relation to his military service. The case will be returned for further examination and a new opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and its relation to his military service. The case will be returned for further examination and a new opinion.

The Board has found a duty to assist error occurred prior to the September 2021 decision and thus remands the case for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss had clinical onset during service or is due to an event or incident of his period of active service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board finds that the Veteran has a history of tinnitus since military service, which is considered an organic disease of the nervous system under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a).

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Veteran's service-connected conditions were evaluated based on the applicable schedular criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, combined with other disabilities rated at least 60%, meets the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate starting from May 16, 2017.

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 decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in obtaining an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure. The AOJ will obtain a new opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left wrist disability have been denied. The TDIU issue has been remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral foot fungus. Service connection is also granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left ankle enthesopathy, right ankle enthesopathy with LCL sprain, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and osteoarthritis of the right knee.,The Board has remanded service connection for a left hip condition, right hip condition, and right shoulder rotator cuff condition.