Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining his complete service personnel records for his period of service in the Navy Reserves. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all Reserve treatment records, specifically any medical records, pertaining to his service in the Army Reserve from October 2008 to April 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, hypertension, vision disability (claimed as macular degeneration), residual(s) of a left shoulder sprain, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine. The Veteran submitted new and relevant evidence that tends to show a more complete picture of his disabilities.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection of tinnitus, hearing loss, and low back pain have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The cases are now remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, constipation, and hypertension. The case was remanded for further action on the issue of left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active-duty service, while there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes regarding his hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate etiology opinions.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, hearing loss, tinnitus, breathing condition, left knee and leg, right knee and leg, mental condition (depression, anxiety relationship concerns, nightmares), skin condition on legs, and swelling in feet have all been denied.,There is no indication of service connection being granted for any of the claimed conditions.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not have a hearing disability at the time of his discharge and no evidence of in-service noise exposure or permanent threshold shifts. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support a nexus between military noise exposure and later development of hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease (IHD), finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not claim onset within or shortly after service.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn and are dismissed. The Board did not make a determination on the merits of any claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a link between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss. The lower back condition issue is remanded as it involves complex etiological theories that need further clarification.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss was granted.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current conditions, and the chronic presumption does not apply due to the late onset of symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) other than based on the loss of use of a creative organ was denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC due to lack of need for aid and attendance or permanent housebound status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities other than right ear hearing loss, dizziness, vertigo, unsteady gait, and headaches do not preclude her from securing and maintaining substantial gainful employment.

The Board has granted a 20% disability rating for lumbosacral strain from April 13, 2023. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not service-connected and the claim remains in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's claims are not supported by evidence showing a current disability, continuity of symptomatology, or a causal relationship between his military service and these conditions.,Service connection was denied as there is no evidence of chronic hearing loss within the presumptive period or continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues related to traumatic arthritis of the right knee and post-operative ligament injury of the right knee at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. New and material evidence was received to reopen claims of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disability.