Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have been rated based on their severity, with no higher ratings available. The Board is remanding the claims for MS and its associated manifestations.,Service connection has been established for MS, but separate ratings are needed due to multiple disabilities resulting from the condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), a stomach disorder (to include GERD), a leg disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, a cervical spine disorder, a right ankle disorder, a left ankle disorder, a right hip/thigh disorder, a left hip/thigh disorder, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder for further development.,The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence of current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic back pain, depression, left knee pain, right knee pain, anxiety, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his tinnitus began during active service or is related to an in-service injury. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied, as there is no persuasive evidence showing it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is not attributable to intercurrent causes.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,Left ear hearing loss has been rated at 0 percent, and an extraschedular rating was denied.,Allergic rhinitis is currently rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's symptoms include sinus congestion and allergies.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service, including considering a delayed onset of hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines headaches and tinnitus, finding that the appellant's current diagnoses are related to her military service.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for schizoaffective disorder, tinnitus, left hip strain and snappy hip syndrome with painful motion, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The current disability rating for schizoaffective disorder is 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied claims for hammertoe deformities of the feet, flat feet, hallux rigidus/limitus, hallux valgus, right hip disability, left hip disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and cervical spine disability. The Veteran's laceration scar on his forearm was granted an initial 10% rating effective May 11, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has restored the Veteran's hearing loss disability rating from 10 percent to 20 percent, effective August 1, 2020.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disability and right hip disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claims of service connection and initial evaluation for various conditions are being reviewed.

Service connection is granted for sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus in the right ear, both determined to be due to noise exposure during military service. Other claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee pain/strain, left knee pain/strain, a left ankle disability, and tinnitus due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's active service included Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the record.,The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during his military service and he was exposed to noise hazards. However, the VA examiner did not find a direct link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bruxism is denied. The Veteran's major depression disorder (MDD) warrants a rating of 70 percent, but not higher.,TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee PFPS and right knee arthritis, but denied the remaining claims including bilateral hearing loss, female problems (including lack of sex drive and fibroids), left hip condition, right hip condition, lower back condition, and bilateral foot condition.