Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right shin stress fracture, left shin stress fracture, and bilateral hearing loss as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities during the appeal period.

The Veteran's death was attributed to myocardial infarction and cardiac insufficiency. The VA examiner opined that the service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, but there is a need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an effective date prior to July 17, 2019 for service connection for duodenal ulcer status post vagotomy with dumping syndrome, vomiting and diarrhea also claimed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), severe dietary restrictions and chronic emesis, and entitlement to service connection for rib removal due to surgery.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be incurred in or caused by service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, right shin splints, chronic bronchitis, and neck condition due to inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran's in-service exposure to toxic risk activities is also being requested.

The Board denied an effective date prior to December 21, 2022, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).,The Board also denied an earlier effective date than December 21, 2022, for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a TDIU and an earlier effective date for DEA benefits due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and sustain substantially gainful employment, as he has reported working as an independent insurance agent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a left ear hearing loss disability and insufficient evidence to link right ear hearing loss to service.

The Veteran is granted a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective June 26, 2013.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for depressive disorder was granted with an initial rating of 30 percent effective August 1, 2011. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to February 5, 2020. From February 5, 2020, the Veteran is granted a 50% disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability effective from March 3, 2020. The decision is based on the Veteran's initial claim filed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied as his audiometric test results do not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 0 percent rating.