Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his audiometric results do not show impairment that warrants such a rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in the February 2020 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve), and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were granted effective September 6, 2019. The claim for PTSD was also granted with an effective date of September 6, 2019.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss due to a failure to properly notify the Veteran of VA examinations. The AOJ did not schedule or provide notification for these exams, which are necessary to determine if the conditions were incurred in active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 40 percent effective June 3, 2022. The rating for right and left lower extremity peripheral venous insufficiency was increased to 40 percent from April 6, 2017.,Prior to September 27, 2005, the Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 0 percent, with a 10 percent rating granted from March 8, 2005, and a 40 percent rating effective October 5, 2006. The right and left lower extremity peripheral venous insufficiency was initially rated at 10 percent from September 27, 2005, and increased to 40 percent on June 3, 2022.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a pulmonary disorder, to include asthma, is granted under the PACT Act. Service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria under VA regulations.,Service connection for PTSD is denied because the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD in accordance with DSM-5.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted with an effective date of July 25, 2018. The Board found that the claim was continuously pursued and thus the earliest allowable date under the law is July 25, 2018.

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 related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider evidence not previously considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have current diagnoses for some of the conditions, and the VA examination provided an opinion against the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to an error in obtaining private treatment records from Miracle Ear.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a diagnosis of TBI or any related symptoms at any time during the pendency of the claim.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was also denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, right hand disability, left hand disability, and low back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 20 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent. The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of upper left peripheral neuropathy and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a current disability. The Board found that his separation examination showed normal hearing, and the VA examiner opined that his current right ear hearing loss is less likely related to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prurigo nodularis was granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective December 2, 2019. The claim for reopening of the previously denied hearing loss claim was granted. However, service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The appeal for service connection of a back condition is dismissed.,The appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss is dismissed.,The appeal for higher ratings for service-connected sarcoidosis is dismissed.