Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The appeals for the ratings of bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for right knee and left knee conditions have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and lumbar strain.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their relationship to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for residuals of prostate cancer from January 1, 2018 are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and the severity of his prostate cancer residuals.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and thus any evidence submitted after the May 2023 rating decision is not considered. The appellant's need for aid and attendance must be reassessed with an appropriate VA examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of hearing loss due to a withdrawal request from the Veteran and his representative.,The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthrosis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits due to service-connected disabilities, finding that entitlement did not arise until July 16, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand all issues on appeal due to the need for additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being returned for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports a determination of in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss. The Board is at least equipoise on whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his military service.

The reduction from 50% to a 30% evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was not proper, and the 50% evaluation is restored. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability for VA purposes.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of November 1, 2022 for a 10% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss disability, but remanded the tinnitus claim due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and his low back disability is rated at 40 percent. The other conditions are not granted initial ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, while his claims for bilateral hearing loss and interstitial lung disease were both granted.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection is also established for interstitial lung disease related to in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensable, as the VA examination revealed no worse than Level IX in the right ear and Level I in the left ear.,There is no confirmed diagnosis of a gallbladder disability. The Veteran's current knee conditions are related to service due to trauma from crawling on his knees.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues related to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, and a respiratory condition claimed as breathing problems from ingesting kerosene.

The Veteran's appeals for tinnitus and a right ankle condition were dismissed due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182.,The Veteran's appeal for a left ankle condition was denied as there is no current disability.