Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active duty and have been related to noise exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right ankle conditions, but granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's claimed left and right ankle conditions due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss were granted service connection based on aggravation during service. His urinary leakage was denied as it did not have its onset in service or within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing (SAH) or a special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to insufficient severity of his eye disability and lack of other qualifying disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. The claim for tinnitus is granted due to the indication of chronicity since service and lay testimony. The claims for bilateral dry eye, foot fungus, ankle, knee, and wrist disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, left shoulder, and left hip disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinions. The IBS, overactive bladder disability, and hearing loss disability are being remanded as they may be related to toxic exposure from service. Service connection is granted for Type II diabetes mellitus under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for COPD and sleep apnea.,The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, but the evidence does not support such a rating prior to October 2, 2020.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and a right knee disability. Service connection was granted for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder at a 50% rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus, lower back condition (lumbar arthritis), lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder arthritis and tendonitis, and left knee condition are all granted service connection. The hearing loss claim is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for diabetes, duodenal ulcer, hearing loss, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of current diagnosis. The left ear hearing loss claim is remanded as there are insufficient opinions from the VA examiners.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error that occurred prior to the November 2020 rating decision on appeal. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is being remanded for further analysis and an adequate opinion regarding whether it was aggravated by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including Parkinson's disease and urethral strictures with urinary dysfunction, have caused significant disabilities that require regular aid and attendance. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension and granted eligibility for SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not caused by or a result of military noise exposure during his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement (VA Form 10182) was not timely filed within one year from the date of the October 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating prior to June 13, 2019. The Board finds insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable solely because of his service-connected disabilities during this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, lung condition, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss as there is no current disability established by the evidence of record. The Board also found that a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was not warranted.