Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee strain, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's service records show a high probability of noise exposure in an infantry battalion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not support a link between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the VA examination and failure to obtain relevant separation records. The Veteran's hearing loss will be re-evaluated by a specialist in otolaryngology.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the failure to schedule a VA examination within five years of the last examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss are granted service connection. The Veteran's right knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and intermittent explosive disorder) are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure and the current disability is not related to service.,The Veteran's tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure, and it is less likely than not caused by or a result of military noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The Board finds service connection for tinnitus is warranted due to in-service noise exposure and credible lay statements of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and a TDIU prior to January 31, 2020 has been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA audiogram results from 2009 and 2010. The issues of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 23, 2022, and entitlement to TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and credible testimony. The VA examinations did not provide sufficient evidence to deny service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.,For the period prior to February 22, 2023, the Veteran's skin condition (furuncles with scarring) did not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation beyond 10 percent.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss, finding that his symptoms do not warrant such a rating based on VA's tables for rating hearing loss disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition based on audiometric testing results. The Board also determined that an extraschedular rating was not warranted due to lack of exceptional or unusual circumstances affecting employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which was related to conceded hazardous noise exposure during service. A new VA examination is needed to address whether the Veteran's hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to this exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 10 percent disability rating effective January 23, 2020. Prior to that date, the condition was not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability, a bilateral eye disability, left ear hearing loss, a head nodule, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities prior to August 10, 2022, were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims of increased evaluations for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities remain on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied. The case is also remanded for a new examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and for consideration of TDIU.