Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating of 30 percent for allergic rhinitis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis with polyps warrants a 30 percent rating.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder and right ear hearing loss are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus (insulin dependence), bilateral kidney condition, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disability were all denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability during or shortly before the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are based on his exposure to hazardous noise in military service. However, the VA examiner found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability and noted that there was no significant shift in hearing thresholds beyond test variability from the Veteran's entrance to separation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of service connection for the purpose of establishing eligibility to treatment as already granted. The issues on appeal have been remanded for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's asthma was denied as it is not related to service.,Bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for a disability.,Pseudofolliculitis barbae did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.,Keloids on the nape of the neck were remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure in service is conceded, but there is insufficient evidence linking his current conditions to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to November 2, 2022 is being remanded due to the AOJ's failure to refer it to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his left and right ear hearing acuity is no worse than Level I, which corresponds to a noncompensable rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal regarding whether a timely VA Form 9 was filed in response to the April 2020 SOC, finding that good cause exists due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The merits of the service connection claims for back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and hearing loss will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA), which could affect his service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss. The VA must verify these periods and provide an adequate medical opinion on whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The issue of service connection for insomnia as secondary to service-connected tinnitus has been added and remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to noise trauma sustained during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy have been granted service connection, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Veteran is currently receiving a 40% rating for his right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal for effective dates prior to July 26, 2019, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his hearing request.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, upper back pain, and neck pain have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn his appeal.

Your appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed because it is identical to a previous appeal that was remanded by the Board in January 2024. The current appeal does not involve new evidence or circumstances.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20% rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective January 1, 2021, as the reduction was found to be invalid due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as it cannot be in both systems simultaneously due to an existing legacy appeal for similar issues.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed hearing loss disability began in service, was caused by service (to include whether any injury due to conceded noise exposure contributed to her current hearing loss), or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board has also remanded the claim of service connection for chronic sinusitis, as secondary to service-connected nasopharyngeal carcinoma.