Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, as the Board finds that her tinnitus had its onset during active duty and is presumed related to noise exposure in service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, as she does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for breast cancer is remanded, as the Board finds that an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of her condition has not been provided.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability (pes planus) is remanded, as the Board finds that an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of her condition has not been provided.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder injury, left shoulder strain, right thigh impairment, or right hip flexion limitation. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.,The Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, but his hypertension is granted as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is a direct result of his in-service exposure to hazardous noise, including artillery, mortar, weapons fire, and radio noise. The evidence supports this finding, including the Veteran's own statements about his service experiences and the VA examination report from Dr. M.T., which concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss was more likely than not due to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied due to no evidence of a compensable rating.

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 Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a qualifying hearing loss disability for VA purposes and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was remanded for tinnitus due to an error in satisfying a regulatory duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a link between his current disability and his military service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and pigmentary retinal dystrophy are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for tinnitus as moot due to a grant of service connection in a prior decision. The claims for left foot disorder, left shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his preexisting hearing loss was aggravated by service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities.,Service connection was established for these conditions based on a direct relationship to active duty 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 having been received.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left hands, and sciatica/neuralgia in both lower extremities are granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed as she did not file a notice of disagreement (NOD).,Service connection has been granted for GERD and esophageal hernia, with the Board finding that the evidence supports a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, benign prostatic hyperplasia/hypertrophy, and chronic dermatitis to include tinea versicolor were denied. The Veteran was previously awarded a noncompensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss prior to January 11, 2021, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. For benign prostatic hyperplasia/hypertrophy, the Veteran received a 40 percent evaluation from July 9, 2009, based on awakening to void five or more times per night. For chronic dermatitis (tinea versicolor), he was awarded a noncompensable rating prior to March 18, 2010, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot scar, claimed as cellulitis. The other claims of service connection are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss for accrued benefits purposes because the Veteran's hearing acuity in his left ear did not meet the auditory threshold required for VA disability compensation.