Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing was normal at the time of his August 2019 VA examination and did not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TB are denied. The right knee disability claim is remanded.,For tinnitus, the evidence does not establish a current disability or relate it to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, with a 0 percent disability rating assigned.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric condition, bilateral hearing loss, and neck and thoracolumbar spine disabilities have been granted. The claim for service connection for the thoracolumbar spine disability remains pending due to remand.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since October 1, 1999. The most recent VA audiometric evaluation in September 2020 showed hearing acuity levels of Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current level of hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the VA audiological examination results indicate he has no worse than Level I hearing impairment in either ear during the appellate period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

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 based on continuity of symptomatology.

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 determined that additional development is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is due to in-service noise exposure and his competent and credible reports of experiencing hearing issues since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his preexisting hearing loss did not increase in severity during service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for peptic ulcer disease and left ear hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to January 11, 2021, for his bilateral hearing loss is denied as the current rating criteria provides for a mechanical application of test results and there was no indication that the findings were inadequate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating for hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric testing in a previous VA examination. The case is being returned for an addendum opinion to address these issues.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for malignant melanoma. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was established, with the onset likely in service.,Service connection for malignant melanoma was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 11, 2020, and his TDIU claim were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment or sufficient additional disability to bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more.