Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear reasons for denial and inadequate notice. The claim will be reviewed under applicable regulations regarding payment of non-VA medical care.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for major depressive disorder, service connection for hearing loss, and initial compensable rating for right-hand osteoarthritis were denied. The appeal for service connection for a left hand condition was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The issues of service connection for pulmonary lung condition, bilateral hearing loss, left knee injury, and IBS are being reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise to show these conditions are related to the Veteran's military noise exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis is granted due to exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and irritable bowel syndrome is denied as there is no current disability or objective indications thereof.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to April 1, 2022, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter for service-connected PTSD is dismissed. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been readjudicated due to new evidence received.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining unit records to corroborate in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for left ear hearing loss due to lack of a current disability as per VA standards. For right ear hearing loss, the Board assigned great probative value to the VA examiner's opinion, finding no in-service incurrence or aggravation and no nexus to military noise exposure. Service connection was granted for tinnitus based on lay testimony regarding its onset during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete consideration of evidence regarding actual noise exposure during service.

The Board has found that there is a pre-adjudication duty to assist error and remands the case for an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on competent lay evidence from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a nose disorder and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 10 percent for migraines was granted, effective October 25, 2020.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for migraines was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a seizure disorder (also claimed as epilepsy) effective from February 2, 1994.,However, the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for higher disability ratings remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination reports and the need for further evaluation of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with a speech recognition score of Level I in both ears and average pure tone thresholds also at Level I. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

Service connection is granted for a right ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss, but denied for tinnitus.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA development.