Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has restored service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the improper severance of these conditions in a previous rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder strain and left pes cavus (claw foot) due to duty-to-assist errors.,For the claim of bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran is not entitled to service connection as there is no current disability. For tinnitus, the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it began during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected. The right shoulder injury and skin cancer claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted prior to the appeal, making the issue moot. The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of TDIU (Individual Unemployability) as there was no prior communication indicating intent to apply for TDIU, and the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase in service-connected disabilities within one year prior to April 22, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are directly related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and hearing loss are dismissed as the issues are pending in a future decision currently under the Legacy Appeals system.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the lack of STRs, specifically audiometric test results from his service. The Board will attempt to obtain these records and determine if they support or refute the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is less likely related to his in-service acoustic trauma and noting no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease for accrued benefits purposes due to a lack of an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER). The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss for accrued benefits purposes is denied as there was no new and relevant evidence presented.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current right and left ear hearing loss disabilities were caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran experienced noise exposure after service, which is more likely than not the cause of his current disabilities.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for such a rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's low back disability and heart disability (valvular heart disease) are remanded for further review.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of pneumonia as the evidence does not support a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DM has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 7, 2019 for the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, right hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided were inadequate and remanded to obtain a sufficient opinion concerning the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including whether service connection should be granted.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for an initial evaluation greater than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain.