Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and headaches have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to service.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left knee scars has been denied because the scars do not meet the criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during service or within the presumptive period. The Veteran's tinnitus, however, is granted as it is related to his active service.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are remanded for further development due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding their onset and relationship to service.,The Veteran's right ankle disorder is also remanded for further development due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding its onset and relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions in the April 2021 decision. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for prostate cancer are being remanded due to the need to consider additional evidence, including audiogram results from CPRS and medical records related to his prostate cancer treatment. The Board also notes that VA did not obtain a VA examination or medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate audiology opinion. The Veteran's hearing loss is being reviewed again for potential service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating in excess of 70 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for L5-S1 lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.,Service connection for hearing loss was denied because there is no indication of its manifestation within one year of service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was evaluated as Level VIII, which is noncompensable. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus is denied because the preexisting condition did not worsen during service.,Entitlement to service connection for bronchitis is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,The Veteran's BHL, right foot pain, and hemorrhoids are remanded for further evaluation.,Right foot pain is remanded for a VA examination.,Hemorrhoids are also remanded for a VA examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of PFB and duodenal ulcer, as well as his claim for service connection of OSA. The claims were withdrawn by the Veteran during a hearing before the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of right and left ear hearing loss due to inadequate etiology opinions provided in the June 2021 VA examination report.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were adjudicated under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), and a final rating decision was issued. The appellant did not appeal this decision within one year, making it final. There is no evidence that the Veteran had unpaid benefits at the time of his death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss effective August 3, 2009, the date of the Veteran's informal claim. The earlier effective date is warranted as the earliest possible effective date based on the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is related to hazardous noise exposure sustained in service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a rating greater than 0 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of tinnitus was denied as he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular evaluation (10%).,Service connection for headaches, secondary to service-connected tinnitus, was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss contributed to his death or made him more vulnerable to his principal and contributory causes of death (cardiac arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, diabetes, dementia).

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss and an earlier effective date. The Board has determined that there are outstanding VA treatment records and additional evidentiary development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.