Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a disability rating of 10 percent, effective from October 10, 2014. The Board found that the evidence supported this rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded four issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right and left hand disabilities manifesting in pain. The AOJ is directed to obtain clarification from the Veteran regarding his VA treatment records and attempt to obtain private treatment records. Additionally, a new examination is required for each issue.

The Board has vacated its decision denying a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the service connection claims for prostate cancer, GERD, rhinitis, and right ankle sprain.,The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, effective from the date of receipt of a supplemental claim on March 12, 2024.

The Veteran's service-connected Parkinson's disease, hearing loss, tinnitus, and depressive disorder with anxious distress render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in the right ear and no worse than Level II in the left ear. The Board denied a compensable rating for this disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. Right ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, while there is no evidence of current left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's petition to restore the rating for chronic laceration residuals at the right lower extremity was granted. Service connection was established for a left ankle disorder, but denied for bilateral hearing loss and various finger conditions. The reduction in ratings for some disabilities was found to be improper.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for temporomandibular disorder, fibromyalgia, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied.,Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in audiometric test results and a need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently has hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and whether it is at least as likely as not that his right and/or left ear hearing loss disorder is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as all issues have been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to an unexplained cancellation of a VA examination. The Veteran and his representative contend that they were not notified about the exam, which was requested in June 2022.

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

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connection due to noise exposure during service.,Service connection for PTSD and depression is denied because the Veteran does not have a diagnosed condition.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining private treatment records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, left ear hearing loss, and migraines (claimed as headaches) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating in any of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss and there is no evidence linking his in-service noise exposure to his claimed condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to missed VA examinations. The Veteran will be provided another opportunity to attend VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in notifying the Veteran of his right to a hearing before the RO. The claim for service connection for hearing loss will be reconsidered after providing the necessary notice.