Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA audiological examination records and requests for private treatment providers. The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Veteran's request for higher-level review of his increased rating claims for hearing loss and irritable bowel syndrome was denied because the request was untimely.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for PFB and bilateral hearing loss from June 24, 2020 to December 13, 2021 is denied. The claim for a higher than 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from December 14, 2021 is also denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea due to procedural issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance prior to June 9, 2020, as there was no evidence showing the Veteran needed regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected conditions before that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinusitis, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, a right big toe disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and heart disease due to incomplete records and failure to obtain necessary medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, kidney disability, and several other disabilities are denied. The Board has remanded the remaining service connection claims.

The Veteran submitted new evidence after the August 2007 rating decision, including service treatment records from his deployment to Afghanistan. This evidence is relevant to the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus and may prove or disprove the in-service injury or illness element on a direct basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the AOJ not having all relevant VA treatment records and a private provider record from 2016. The AOJ must seek these records and complete the review.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to a pre-decisional error in not considering a private audiogram.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted because his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability prevents him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The claims for left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and lower back condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board denied a higher rating as there was no exceptional pattern of hearing impairment present. For TDIU, the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements and his claim for extraschedular consideration was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for additional examinations. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all under review.

The Board found no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or injury, and the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year after separation from service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is more likely due to natural progression over time rather than noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for a bilateral foot disorder (claimed as plantar fasciitis) is granted. The Board found that the Veteran had functional impairment and an impact on employment due to his foot pain.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on housebound status was denied because he does not meet the criteria for such benefits, as his service-connected disabilities do not independently rate at 60% or more and he is not permanently confined to his dwelling due to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.