Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic back pain due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior decision. The Veteran's assertions regarding noise exposure during service are considered.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's shortness of breath claim is remanded as the VA did not provide a medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and implementation of a service connection decision.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including a right ankle fracture rating claim and service connection for various conditions. The Veteran will need to provide new evidence within 90 days of his scheduled hearing date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, necessitating a remand for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's scar(s) of the left foot and lower leg are not compensable under current criteria.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and spinal stenosis remains remanded as new evidence may be needed to establish this condition.,A disability rating in excess of 20 percent for residual(s) of left foot fracture; arthritis of the left midfoot and first metatarsophalangeal joint, status post ORIF-screw placement with bone graft is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, headache disorder, lower back disorder, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all remanded due to inadequate examinations and development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the issues of service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lumbar strain, and PTSD. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, multiple keloids, bilateral pes planus, a right foot condition, diabetes, a right quadriceps injury, bilateral open angle glaucoma, and hypertension. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that he does not have a qualifying event, injury, or disease related to military noise exposure and his hearing loss is within normal progression of his age.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, hepatitis C, and respiratory conditions (including sinusitis) are related to service. However, his bilateral hearing loss and flash burn with chronic watery and corneal scarring (eye condition) require further examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hypertension, tinnitus, and hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current level of hearing loss does not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but granted service connection for sacroiliac injury with IVDS and degenerative arthritis (claimed as low back injury).,Service connection was granted for the Veteran's current sacroiliac injury with IVDS and degenerative arthritis (low back injury) due to a motor vehicle accident in 1979.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, an ear condition, and a right inguinal hernia need to be remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to provide adequate medical opinions. The AOJ will need to schedule the Veteran for additional VA examinations to address these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records and inadequate examination.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the reduction was improper due to an improvement in hearing but not sufficient to show an actual improvement in ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the VA determined that a 50 percent rating most closely approximates his disability. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied because he did not meet the schedular criteria for a single disability with a combined rating of at least 60 percent, and there is no evidence to suggest he could secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.