Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were previously denied in September 2008. After receiving relevant service personnel and treatment records, the AOJ granted these claims on February 15, 2008.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level II in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Veteran did not meet the thresholds for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision found no evidence of a current disability for the hearing loss claim and noted that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, as he was still capable of performing the activities required by his past work experience.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that could be linked to these conditions. The claim for Crohn's disease is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.,Service connection was not granted for the Appellant's claimed disabilities as there was no established link between his service and the conditions.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not compensable as there is no evidence of penile deformity.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted due to current disability and conceded exposure to acoustic trauma in service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma and stressor related disorder) has been granted based on current diagnosis, conceded stressor, and continuity of symptoms since service.,PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased extraschedular ratings for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the established schedular criteria adequately described his disability and symptoms.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential pre-decisional errors in previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was caused by his exposure to noise trauma during service, and thus grants service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, with levels ranging from mild to moderate to severe. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has decided that tinnitus is related to service and granted the claim. The hearing loss disorder claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of her tinnitus, as her previous VA examination did not adequately address her contentions regarding the onset and relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability during or prior to the period on appeal.,For the earlier effective date claim, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for residuals of adenocarcinoma but the Board found that the earliest possible effective date is February 11, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee degenerative osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative osteoarthritis, right shoulder strain, and left shoulder strain are denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to July 18, 2022.,The Veteran's claim for migraines has been reopened due to new and relevant evidence. The claims will be readjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 11, 2023. The Board granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with a numeric designation of Level I in both ears. The Board found the evidence insufficient to warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he has hobbies that suggest he is capable of performing tasks in a storage unit business.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and missing post-service medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported a finding of in-service noise exposure and current disability, leading to a determination that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, gout, right and left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in the VA examinations. The Veteran will need additional evaluations to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.