Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's active duty service and his current hearing disability, despite credible reports of noise exposure. The VA examiner found that the Veteran did not have a threshold shift during military service and concluded that it is unlikely that delayed effects from noise exposure occur later in life.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues are related to whether these conditions are related to her active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance claims were granted for the period from July 16, 2019 to April 22, 2020 due to his service-connected hearing loss and PTSD.

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 in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, as his disabilities do not significantly impair his ability to perform daily activities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of high triglycerides, bilateral hearing loss, migraines, prostate cancer, leukemia, right knee disability, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. Service connection was granted for hypertension and chronic kidney disease on a secondary basis due to hypertension. The appeal for a sleep disorder (including insomnia) was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or any service-connected condition. Service connection for left knee disability was also denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

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

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for consideration of an earlier effective date prior to May 19, 2018, on an extraschedular basis. The AOJ must refer the case to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence showing that his current condition began during or was aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD with panic attacks, alcohol use disorder, and major depressive disorder with anxious distress, is found to be related to active service.,While the Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus, there is no evidence of hearing loss for VA purposes during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and an initial disability rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches. The Veteran's symptoms have been found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of PTSD, anxiety, depression, a disability manifested by chronic sleep impairment, and TDIU. The hearing loss claim is denied as it does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the cases for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to withdrawal. The appeal for service connection of foot fungus is remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be at levels I and II in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating under the applicable VA disability evaluation criteria.