Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection, with the tinnitus finding based on in-service noise exposure. The left shoulder disability has also been granted a 30 percent evaluation.,No specific evidence of exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War was provided.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat foot, fallen arches is dismissed due to the concurrent review request filed on May 19, 2022.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip disability and a bilateral knee disability have been denied as there is no credible evidence of current disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been denied due to the lack of competent medical evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been denied based on insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as there is no new and relevant evidence submitted after the initial decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete and inadequate VA examination opinions, requiring a new examination to determine if any hearing loss disability is related to service or any event, injury, disease, or exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal of his claims for service connection for various conditions was dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was filed more than a year after the most recent decision denying those claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee strain, and right knee strain due to inadequate medical opinions in the September 2021 DBQ.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of service-connected hypertension was denied as the evidence did not show that his blood pressure readings met the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of service-connected monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) was denied as there is no evidence to show that his condition has manifested as symptomatic multiple myeloma.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the audiometric results did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of consideration of new evidence submitted by the Veteran after the AOJ decision. The VA examiner's opinion is inadequate as it did not consider delayed onset hearing loss or other potential etiologies.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at a noncompensable level, and the claim for a compensable rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for tinnitus is granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus and that it is at least as likely as not related to acoustic noise exposure during service.

Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for bipolar disorder prior to November 17, 2023, is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent VA examination and private treatment record both indicating Level I hearing acuity in both ears.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back conditions and bilateral radiculopathy of his lower extremities, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to limitations such as difficulty dressing, feeding himself, attending to the wants of nature, and traveling. The Board has determined that these criteria are met for SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disorders due to their grant during the pendency of the appeal. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines, PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, inguinal hernia, and hernia scar have rendered him unemployable due to their combined effect. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to a failure to schedule a VA examination.