Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 16, 2014, due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to work. The record did not raise a reasonable possibility of unemployability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it was caused by his in-service noise exposure and other factors.

The Veteran's service connection for left knee scars was granted with an effective date of March 19, 2017. The RO also granted increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as entitlement to a TDIU, all with effective dates of September 16, 2020.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim of service connection for a heart condition due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 11, 2021; no single service-connected disability rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation on or after January 11, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service. The claim will be reconsidered with a new medical opinion.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder as it is not within its jurisdiction due to a pending Supplemental Claim.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal. The claim for increased rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis was remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently present bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied service connection for TBI. The Veteran's PTSD is also being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the most recent VA examination showing no worse than Level II in both ears. The Board found that compensable hearing loss for purposes of VA regulations has not been shown.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for service connection for vertigo was remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disability as residuals of scabies and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of hearing loss (also claimed as deafness, nerve) due to the appellant's withdrawal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's daughter was denied eligibility for VA Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) benefits because the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a serious injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, and his combined disability rating was insufficient to qualify as such.

The Board has determined that the VA provided inadequate assistance in examining and obtaining medical opinions for the appellant's claims of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are therefore being remanded to provide a proper examination and obtain relevant medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for prostate disability, nervous leg syndrome, right, and bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for loss of use of bilateral lower extremities was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to August 24, 2021.,Service connection for additional nerve disabilities (sciatic nerve, peroneal nerve, femoral nerve, saphenous nerve) was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been granted due to the submission of new evidence. The Board finds that the Veteran sustained acoustic trauma during active service, which is related to his current symptoms of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.