Hearing loss decisions — 2024

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any potential noise exposure during service did not result in current hearing loss.

The Veteran's left ear hearing acuity has been manifested by no worse than Level I Roman numeral designation, resulting in a noncompensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's death was caused by pneumonia due to or as a consequence of renal failure. The service-connected conditions, including PTSD, degenerative disc disease, and hypertension, substantially contributed to the cause of his death.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of anxiety disorder with adjustment issues, aggression (acquired psychiatric disorder), left ear hearing loss, and right eye injury. The appeal for service connection of a back disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to missing mental health treatment records from VA centers. The Veteran's Huntington disease and right ear hearing loss are key factors in his TDIU claim.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 10 percent for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective from December 6, 2017. The evidence shows an increase in the Veteran's hearing loss within one year prior to his increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the lack of valid audiometric test results. The Board requests another VA audiological examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss on a presumptive basis due to noise exposure in service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as non-compensable, and the Board finds that his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral hip disability, including as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities due to further development of the record.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service. The Veteran's assertions of in-service onset were not supported by contemporaneous records showing normal hearing.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his hearing loss and tinnitus did not contribute to his respiratory failure death. The Board also found no evidence linking any service-connected conditions to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective April 11, 2018. An initial compensable rating for hearing loss is granted since that date. The Veteran also receives a TDIU effective April 11, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions provided and the need for clarification on the onset of hearing loss symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his disabilities and active service, including conceded toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs).

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, asthma, Crohn's disease, and a back disability. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a heart condition is remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent since January 10, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the appellant's discharge from service and his claims for service connection. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather whether the character of his discharge constitutes a bar to VA benefits.