Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted and remanded due to the submission of new evidence indicating noise exposure during boot camp.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, and right hip disability. The appeal for a right knee disability is remanded, as well as the one for a low back disability and psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for deafness and hearing loss, finding that there was no error in the December 2, 1963 rating decision as the RO did not err in applying the presumption of soundness or in determining that the disabilities were not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the previous denial of service connection for right ear hearing loss disability was based on an inadequate examination, and thus remands the case for a new examination to determine if there is a current right ear hearing loss disability related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder, combined with other service-connected disabilities, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of May 1, 2018. The Board granted an effective date of May 1, 2018 for the award of TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the condition is related to active-duty service.

The Board has identified an error in the VA's duty to assist and has ordered a new VA examination for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's puretone thresholds and speech recognition scores do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a diagnosis of hearing loss within one year after separation from service. The Board also found that the current hearing loss does not have onset during service and is not related to military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation for hearing loss was denied, as his bilateral hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied due to lack of evidence showing he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied, but his left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The decision is based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam for CAD, and a positive opinion regarding an in-service stressor for PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, OSA, hypertension, and a back disability have been denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions.,Service connection has not been established for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective April 8, 2022, the date of his service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's right leg hamstring strain and bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome have been granted service connection. However, his hearing loss has not met the criteria for a current disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran's sinusitis claim is denied as it did not cause incapacitating or non-incapacitating episodes.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted due to in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were denied, and the appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was remanded. The VA found no evidence to support higher ratings or separate evaluations for his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ear hearing loss, psychiatric disability (depressive disorder and anxiety disorder), recurrent hemorrhoids, and gallbladder disability to include cholecystectomy residuals due to a pre-decisional error in verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty with the Florida Army National Guard.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the January 2023 remand order and thus, the Veteran's claims for service connection for eustachian tube dysfunction, otitis externa, and otosclerosis on a secondary basis as it's related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further development.