Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, PVD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unemployable since April 26, 2019. The Board has granted an effective date of April 26, 2019, for the award of a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The initial rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability and the TDIU claim are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and granted service connection for it. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that there is no legal or factual basis for the assignment of such an earlier effective date.,An issue regarding an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss and another for residuals of TBI were both remanded by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions provided by VA examiners.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to errors in the VA examination provided.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to errors in the VA examination provided.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to errors in the VA examination provided.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA opinion and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in obtaining VA treatment records from Vista Imaging. The Veteran is not currently service connected for any of these conditions, and his claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional error in fulfilling the duty to assist, as the VA examiner's opinion was inadequate for adjudication purposes. The Veteran must be afforded a new medical examination to assess the nature and likely etiology of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the original grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was not clear and unmistakable error (CUE), thus restoring the Veteran's service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's continuous symptoms since service meet the requirements of presumptive service connection. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), RLE peripheral neuropathy, LLE peripheral neuropathy, RUE peripheral neuropathy, and LUE peripheral neuropathy due to new and relevant evidence received since the July 2019 rating decision.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss, hypertension (HTN), or right total hip replacement for VA purposes. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide further examination.