Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 30, 2019 for a 30 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The earliest ascertainable increase in hearing impairment occurred on that date.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss from January 17, 2020 to September 24, 2020 and from September 25, 2020 was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected bilateral hearing loss warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent or 40 percent respectively during these periods.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected due to in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back injury, heart problem, and bilateral leg conditions have been denied as new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to warrant readjudication.,Service connection for memory loss and brain lesions is denied due to the lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee disabilities and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from February 24, 2021. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional error in failing to obtain an adequate VA examination. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and migraines, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 22, 2011. Effective as of April 30, 2019, she is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examination findings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are invalid, thus remanding the case for further evaluation.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at AdventHealth Lake Placid on November 13, 2019 are now covered by VA as the treatment was for a serious condition that posed an immediate threat to his health and no feasible VA facility was available.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted from March 21, 2022. The appeal period prior to March 21, 2022, is addressed in the remand section.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, granted service connection for left knee pain (left knee disability), and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, anxiety, and sleeping problems.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability did not begin during service or is otherwise related to in-service noise exposure, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection, while his right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board is remanding the case to determine if he qualifies for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was received on February 25, 2021. The effective date of the increased 10 percent rating is set to the date of receipt of the claim due to lack of factual ascertainability within one year prior.