Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee condition, vision impairment, tinnitus, and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a digestive disorder and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or symptoms of these conditions, and the evidence does not meet the regulatory requirements for ratable disabilities.

The Board has found the VA examiner's opinions inadequate and remanded for addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets VA criteria.,The Board has remanded the claims for left and right ankle conditions due to inadequate pre-decisional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, left knee and ankle injuries, tinnitus, right knee strain, and other conditions, are sufficient to produce unemployability. The Board granted the TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, review of outstanding records, and application of the combat presumption.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since June 27, 1997. The most recent VA examinations in February and October 2021 showed puretone thresholds of up to 65 decibels in the right ear and up to 85 decibels in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating under the Rating Schedule.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed regarding the qualifications of the VA examiners who performed the Veteran's eye and hearing loss examinations in July 2018, as well as a VA examination for his right hand and wrist conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain this information.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for eating disorder and hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is linked to military noise exposure, while the evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities for eating disorder or hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to unresolved procedural or factual issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in at least an approximate balance as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and gout have been denied.,There is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing due to his current combined rating of 60 percent, which does not include any permanent and total disability that precludes locomotion without assistive devices or loss of use of both upper or lower extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia as secondary to service-connected tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking the condition to military service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board found no evidence to warrant a compensable rating.,For his left shoulder disability, the Board determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating due to limited motion being less than 25 degrees from the side. The Veteran's appeal was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases for its decision, specifically regarding a December 2014 VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is now before the Board again.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to in-service noise exposure and thus not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for sinus headaches, allergic rhinitis, rubella, gastroenteritis (claimed as abdominal pain, acid reflux and GERD), and vertigo, dizziness, and lightheadedness secondary to service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus.,Service connection was not established for any of the claimed conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability in service or due to noise exposure, and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.