Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear and right ear hearing loss, finding no evidence of a link between his current hearing impairment and his military service.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's denial of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was legally erroneous due to a failure to consider new evidence. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum VA opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure and more likely due to natural aging. Service connection was granted for tinnitus, with the condition being present since service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing the current hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand both claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus due to the need for further development. Specifically, a new VA examination is required to clarify the severity of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, and an addendum opinion on the etiology of his tinnitus is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as not related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's request for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence in the April 2021 VA opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reviewed with a new medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's disease, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions in the record.,The Veteran did not have a diagnosed condition of Meniere's disease or bilateral hearing loss at the time his claims were adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from Poplar Bluff (Missouri) VA Medical Center.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active service exposure to noise during combat in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.

Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss. Service connection for low back strain is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error in the December 2020 VA medical opinion. The Veteran's active-duty service included noise exposure, particularly as an Electronic Maintenance Chief with high probability for noise exposure.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's request to reopen a service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss because proper claims processing procedures have not been followed.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for ventricular fibrillation and bilateral hearing loss due to in-service exposure, requiring a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and that he had a decrease in hearing acuity during service. The decision also acknowledges the Veteran's self-reports regarding the onset and duration of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a 10% rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is denied because he has already been assigned compensable ratings for other conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the claim for left ear hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and a proper medical opinion.

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