Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the readjudication of claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and vertigo. The claims are being remanded due to new evidence received since the August 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines. The Board has determined that a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for left ear hearing loss and non-specific headaches was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 8100 (migraines) or Diagnostic Code 6100 (bilateral hearing loss).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's GERD is granted an initial 30 percent rating, while the other service connection claims are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection regarding hearing loss was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including left foot disability, right foot disability, hearing disability (including as tinnitus and hearing loss), PFB, right eye disability, left arm disability, and hypertension. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Board has found that the VA did not obtain all necessary medical records related to the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, and thus remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD with major depression) are granted. The Board finds new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but the Board grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain (back disability) and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The back disability was found to be aggravated during active duty training, while the hearing loss claims were not supported by evidence showing it had onset or progression in service.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as he does not have a current disability. The claims for tinnitus, headaches, left knee pain, right knee pain, irritable bowel syndrome, left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, left ankle pain, left hand arthritis, right hand arthritis, numbness in the legs and feet, foot pain/plantar fasciitis/heel spurs, lumbago/back pain, neck pain have all been remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, liver cirrhosis, and ED, rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on this evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the right ear at Level II and left ear at Level I. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the threshold for a compensable rating.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.