Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of tinnitus, hearing loss, and myasthenia gravis due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the Appellant did not meet the criteria for VA burial benefits as her father had no pending claims at the time of his death.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar strain and cervical strain status post cervical fusion, as well as his claims of service connection for left knee strain, ganglion cyst excision without residuals, and residuals, right bicep muscle injury have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and OSA have been granted on a limited basis due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request for increased ratings and TDIU, effective March 8, 2019. The appellant is eligible to receive attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the March 2022 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguity in the relevant regulation regarding the effective date of service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU. The effective date will be determined based on the earliest submission of an application for character of discharge upgrade.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were dismissed as the issues did not involve service connection.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability was denied an increased rating, with a 30 percent rating being the highest possible under the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone prevents him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, qualifying for TDIU. Additionally, the combined rating of his additional disabilities (Acne, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Absence, Acquired Left Testicle, and Tinnitus) meets the 60% threshold required for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral eye disability, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new evidence received after the initial decision. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) with the Army National Guard.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is considered to have been incurred in service and has been chronic since then, while her hearing loss does not meet the regulatory requirements for a ratable disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been granted a 10 percent evaluation since December 19, 2019. The Board found that the evidence supported this rating and resolved doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for chronic left knee disability and atrial fibrillation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating, as his hearing acuity levels do not warrant a compensable rating. For the left knee and right knee issues, the case is remanded to obtain updated medical examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and statis dermatitis on bilateral legs and ankles have been denied. The decision is based on the lack of new and relevant evidence, as well as the absence of a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's hepatitis B was denied an increased rating as it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were also denied initial compensable ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examination, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for a disability. The tinnitus claim is remanded as there are insufficient opinions in the May and June 2019 VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his acoustic trauma during active service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service and no continuity of symptomatology post-service.