Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability of these conditions at the time he filed his claim. The Board also found no in-service disease or injury related to erectile dysfunction.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a vision disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to September 27, 2022, was denied. For the period from September 27, 2022, forward, he is granted a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with a previous remand directive regarding obtaining and associating the April 2016 VA audiogram/audiometry results.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's active duty exposure to noise is related to his current condition.

The appeal for increased disability rating for PTSD and hearing loss is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's skin condition started during service and has continued since then. The Board grants service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his time in service, as evidenced by the lack of significant changes in hearing thresholds during service and no treatment records indicating hearing issues until decades after separation from service. Service connection is denied.,Tinnitus was first noted years after service and is linked to the Veteran's BHL. The Board denies service connection for tinnitus.,The Veteran's back condition, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, started in 2013 and is not related to his time in service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Service connection is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the Veteran's claims regarding memory issues and a possible TBI during service.

The Board has remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient reasoning in the previous VA medical examination, particularly regarding the relationship between tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has vacated the May 29, 2024 decision denying TDIU and has remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service to consider an extraschedular TDIU on appeal.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 17, 2015 for a 40 percent rating for hearing loss. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss met the criteria for this rating on that date due to worsening symptoms.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, while the evidence does not support a current disability of bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and related radiculopathy conditions are all granted. The Veteran also has a secondary service-connected spinal scar.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, but the case for hypothyroidism is remanded due to a lack of medical examination or opinion prior to the rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression, somatic symptom disorder, and anxiety), and bilateral hearing loss as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus have been granted. The claim for hypertension and migraine headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 for adjustment disorder with mixed disturbances of emotions and conduct, personality disorder is dismissed as the issue has been fully granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left hand disability, right hand disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all denied.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for prostate cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), rhinitis, and right ankle sprain due to inadequate medical opinions.,The VA examiner failed to provide adequate rationale for their negative opinion regarding the Veteran's prostate cancer claim. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error as there is no adequate medical opinion of record addressing whether the Veteran's prostate cancer is etiologically related to his military service.

The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disorder is denied.,The appeal for service connection of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disorder is denied.,The disability rating for the service-connected lumbar spine disability was restored to 10 percent effective September 6, 2022.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection.,A disability evaluation of 30 percent for a left shoulder disability has also been granted.