Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss. The AOJ should obtain an additional VA examination that includes speech recognition scores based on the Maryland CNC word list, and address whether any current hearing loss found is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, but his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's request for an extension of time to file a VA Form 10182 seeking to appeal the April 2021 rating decision was granted. The May 23, 2023 form is deemed timely.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of nexus between the current disabilities and military service, nor could it be presumed due to the lack of documented hearing loss within one year of discharge.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss is not service-connected, but has ordered a remand to obtain missing STRs and potentially associate them with his file.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to in-service noise exposure and that the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability during service. The Board also found that the Veteran's current hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of residuals of a head injury and left ear hearing loss for further development. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again, and an SSOC will include all evidence received since the November 2014 SSOC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral eye disabilities (cataracts) are not service-connected. The arthritis claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Board has remanded several issues, including hypertension, which is suspected to be related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during his Persian Gulf War service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and a request for additional private treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable (zero percent) due to hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in each ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and TBI are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's request for a compensable rating for his surgical scar of the lumbar spine is denied. The decision also denies service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remands the claims for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disorders.