Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including laryngeal cancer and related conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the complexity of the issues. The Board will consider all evidence, including new testimony from hearings, in its review.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma, while his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the threshold for a disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, and therefore, he does not qualify for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance or adaptive equipment.

The Board denied effective dates prior to April 18, 2021 for the grants of service connection for various disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an intent to file a claim before that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable due to the mechanical application of the rating schedule based on his audiometric results, which showed Level II hearing in the right ear and Level I in the left ear.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including hair loss, groin pain, pseudofolliculitis barbae, low testosterone, psychiatric disorder, and hearing loss due to lack of current disabilities. The claims for right flat foot and left flat foot were dismissed as the Veteran did not appeal the denial.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied. The Board acknowledges that the evidence does not show a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is now service-connected based on in-service noise exposure and current disability.,Service connection for diabetes was denied due to lack of evidence showing chronicity or a presumptive link to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and obtain the Appellant's National Guard service treatment records. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disability, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was previously denied, and the Board has determined that there is no new and relevant evidence to readjudicate this claim. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Raynaud's disease is remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection for headaches was also denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The hearing loss claim is remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted. The claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and erectile dysfunction are denied, but the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to February 19, 2020, and his claim for an increased rating for PTSD since that date are both granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including those related to increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective date for DEA benefits, PTSD disability rating, cervical spine disorder service connection, and TDIU mootness.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates due to duty-to-assist errors. The hearing loss claim is granted with a 10% rating from February 9, 2021. The scars claim remains pending. TDIU and DEA claims are also remanded.