Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with a finding of Level I in both ears based on audiometric testing. The Board denied the claim for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion. The Board finds the March 2022 VA examiner's opinion insufficient and requires further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss disability as defined by VA, and therefore service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because he does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity have all been denied.,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal for the issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran had continuous symptoms of tinnitus since service separation. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused current symptoms.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death, as it does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated as non-compensable (0%) from October 15, 2022. The Board found that the evidence did not show any worsening of the condition during this period and thus denied an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of a current disability meeting VA's regulatory requirements.,The Board also denied service connection for a back disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have a current condition or persistent symptoms thereof that began in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss as no new and relevant evidence was received, despite the Veteran arguing exposure to noise in service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The diabetes mellitus rating was not changed, the cataracts with visual field defects were rated at their maximum, and other conditions like peripheral neuropathy, hearing loss, and tinnitus did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have cumulatively precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational attainment and occupational history.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology based on service noise exposure. The Veteran's MOS as a Machinery Repairman is cited, but no permanent auditory damage was noted in service records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.