Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right-hand fracture and residuals of right arm fracture, finding no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection for sleep apnea was also denied as the evidence did not show it manifested during service or within one year post-service.

The appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran's spouse requested withdrawal of the appeal due to a 100% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disability (claimed as flatfeet with numbness), headaches, and dizziness have been readjudicated due to new evidence. The claims are granted in part.,New VA medical examinations are required to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed headache and dizziness disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his award of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was no evidence showing that he was unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to October 22, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since December 2009. The VA audiologist found that the Veteran's hearing acuity was at Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained for a proper evaluation of the hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as the evidence does not show a level of impairment greater than Roman numeral designation I in both ears. The issues of service connection for other specified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD secondary to left shoulder injury are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to procedural issues, as the VA Form 10182 Notice of Disagreement was not timely filed and no extension request was submitted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left leg disability, left shin disability, left arm disability, right shin disability, and sinusitis as new and relevant evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or PFB-related scars. Increased ratings were also denied for mixed tension migraines.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate VA opinions and potential need for further testing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, narcolepsy, migraine headaches, memory loss, bilateral eye condition, depression, and heart condition have all been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a disability rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385 for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that an additional VA medical opinion is needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which may be related to his military service including noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of obstructive sleep apnea, disorder manifested by facial numbness, dysthymic disorder with panic disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hand tremors, lumbar spine disability, right hand disability, and right ankle disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal. Service connection has been granted for dysthymic disorder with panic disorder.

The Board has found errors in obtaining the Veteran's complete service personnel records and has determined that remand is necessary to correct these pre-decisional errors.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of entitlement to service connection for valvular heart disease due to its withdrawal by the Veteran. The claims of service connection for a respiratory disability, pes planus, and left ear hearing loss are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for BPPV has been remanded due to the inadequacy of the March 2020 VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic otitis media, and sinusitis are inextricably intertwined with the BPPV claim and have also been remanded.

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

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, right bicep tendon adhesion, and back disability. These claims are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has denied an initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to inadequate rationale in the VA examiner's opinion.