Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected conditions cause him to need the regular aid and attendance of another person to remain clean and presentable, and to protect him from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. The Board considered the Veteran's reports of noise exposure but concluded that there was no actual auditory damage resulting from the in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU and service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD, and that his bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted as it began during active service.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD is denied.,An effective date of March 26, 2011, for the assignment of a 50 percent rating for headaches is granted.,An initial rating of 100 percent for service-connected peripheral artery disease is granted.,An earlier effective date of June 10, 2011, for Dependents' Educational Assistance is granted.,An award of special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) effective June 10, 2011, is granted.,Earlier effective dates are remanded for service connection claims related to scars and tissue loss in the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and kidney disability are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for tinnitus due to conflicting evidence and inconsistent statements regarding its onset.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from August 10, 2018 to June 29, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities. From June 30, 2020 to the present, he is in receipt of a 100 percent schedular rating for coronary artery disease and a combined rating of at least 60 percent for other service-connected disabilities, making TDIU moot.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.,Service connection for chronic myelogenous leukemia was granted, with the condition presumed to be related to service exposure to benzene.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Parkinson's disease, hypertension, and MDS. The appeals were based on direct causation rather than presumptive exposure to herbicides or other toxic exposures.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the withdrawal request by the Veteran's representative prior to the promulgation of a Board decision.

The appeals of the denial of service connection for various conditions are dismissed due to the AMA effective date. The Veteran's initial ratings for hemorrhoids and asthma are granted.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the claimant during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and military service. The Veteran's exposure history is unclear, and further examination is needed.

Your claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining questions of fact or law to be decided.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back injury and bilateral hearing loss are not granted. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for left hand frostbite residuals, right hand frostbite residuals, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors for the claims on appeal and thus remanded. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being reviewed with an additional VA examination.