Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to her active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his cognitive impairments.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records. The AOJ must associate all outstanding VA treatment records with the claims file.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the case to consider whether a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is warranted on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for right knee total replacement was dismissed as moot because the benefits sought have already been granted.,The Veteran's initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of service connection and compensable evaluations were granted, with the earliest date being July 31, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent effective March 29, 2022. This rating is based on the severity of his hearing impairment as determined by audiometric testing.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, major depressive disorder, and disability manifested by insomnia due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his pure tone thresholds do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of January 14, 2019 for the grant of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The increase in symptoms warranting TDIU occurred on January 14, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hearing loss, knee replacement, tinnitus, and hypertension, have precluded him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss and other conditions are denied. The Board also remanded several issues for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and right elbow disability is denied. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded as there was a duty to assist error regarding the examination.

The Veteran's right elbow disability, diagnosed as mild degenerative changes and ulnar nerve palsy, status post three arthroscopic surgeries, is granted service connection.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection.,New and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claim for left ear hearing loss.,New and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions were dismissed as he did not comply with proper claims processing rules, including failing to submit a valid RAMP Opt-in or timely notice of disagreement.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the authorized representative withdrew the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), and sleep disturbances due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's hearing loss of the left ear is rated as noncompensable, and his lung cancer post lobectomy is also rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II remains at a 20% rating.,The Veteran needs to provide additional evidence or undergo further examination to support a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted. The Board found that the current diagnosis of hypertension, combined with exposure to herbicide agents and a causal relationship established by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report, meets the criteria for service connection.,Service connection for vertigo disorder was denied as it is not proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury. The VA examiner's opinion concluded that the Veteran's vertigo is more likely related to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo rather than his migraines.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been granted service connection. The right hip, left knee, and right foot conditions have been remanded for further examination and opinion.