Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the knee, skin disorder, vertigo, and sleep apnea claims are being reconsidered.

The Board denied the appellant's request for attorney fees based on the May 2022 rating decision that granted an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU, but allowed fees for the increase in bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss. The issue of an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of an increased rating for left eye corneal abrasion/laceration/scar with photophobia due to conflicting findings and unclear etiology.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability in accordance with VA regulations.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been received to readjudicate the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and thus the appeals are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and dismissed his claim for sinusitis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, with the presumption of soundness applying.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to procedural defects in the docketing of the appeals under the modernized review system.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including as caused by or secondary to service-connected chronic otitis of the right ear. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing loss does not meet the required thresholds under VA's tables for rating hearing loss disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is related to his military service. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of in-service noise exposure and a history of continuous symptoms since service discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than February 22, 2021, for a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss. The earliest medical evidence of record to correspond with this rating was from April 20, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ should obtain medical opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, including on a delayed onset theory.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is granted service connection, but the issue of bilateral hearing loss remains remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.