Hearing loss decisions — 2024

Your appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, frostbite of the left foot, and frostbite of the right foot have been dismissed because your Notice of Disagreement was not timely filed.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the claims of service connection for bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss. The decision is remanded to be adjudicated on its merits.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the last decision supports readjudicating the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, concussions, and right ear hearing loss. The claims are now granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was denied as there were no prior claims or intent to file a claim received before April 19, 2023. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied due to the evidence not showing that his hearing loss warranted a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's December 16, 2019, Higher-Level Review (HLR) form was timely filed and accepted. As a result, the VA must now proceed with adjudicating his request for higher-level review regarding the reopening of his claims of service connection for anxiety disorder, hearing loss, right-knee condition, and PTSD.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the January 2024 rating decision and has ordered a remand for an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure, but the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or an adjustment disorder related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service exposure to hazardous noise.

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6602.,The Veteran's uterine fibroids are currently noncompensably rated as they do not require continuous treatment.,The Veteran's migraines are rated as noncompensable due to less frequent attacks without characteristic prostrating attacks.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied, while service connection for left leg sciatic radicular pain and parasthesia is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for allergic rhinitis is also remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, hypertrophic gastritis, neck disability, back disability, right shoulder disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, cholelithiasis, hiatal hernia, and hemorrhoids. The Board found that the Veteran's claims were previously adjudicated in a prior appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current disability of hearing loss in either ear, as determined by audiometric testing.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted based on a continuity of symptomatology linking current disability to service exposure.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted due to a finding of a current diagnosis and in-service symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, but additional development is needed due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and reasoning provided in the previous decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no probative medical evidence indicating the disability was incurred in or diagnosed within the presumptive period after discharge from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and requires an additional VA examination for the purpose of determining the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's left knee condition was not shown to be related to service due to lack of evidence within one year post-service. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be related to combat exposure during service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of service connection for full body skin condition and allergies due to insufficient evidence.