Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied. The VA examiner found the Veteran's hearing acuity to be at Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from January 31, 2008, to January 1, 2013. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate May 2022 VA examination and failure to provide reasons or bases for the combat presumption.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the May 2023 remand and another remand is required to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings of hypertension and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his puretone thresholds and speech recognition scores do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle disorder, right foot nerve damage, left foot nerve damage, and bilateral foot disorder are remanded due to the need for VA examinations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and chronic sinus disorder are remanded due to the need for a VA examination and determination of potential TERA exposures.,reasoning_summary

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service due to noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes in either ear, and thus denied his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Veteran's appeals regarding higher ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as earlier effective dates for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), have been dismissed due to the untimely filing of his VA Form 10182. The Veteran's appeal is now re-docketed under the Hearing Docket.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus was caused by his in-service noise exposure and grants this claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The VA examination report found no evidence of hearing loss for VA purposes, thus denying this claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his condition.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder disability is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer residuals and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, but vacated the portion of the decision regarding prostate cancer due to procedural issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are causally related to the Veteran's military noise exposure during active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further development and consideration, including a new examination to assess his current hearing loss and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches remains denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,Service connection was denied for traumatic brain injury, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis or established link to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient medical opinions. The case is now pending further examination and opinion.