Hearing loss decisions — 2024

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam.,Service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of an adequate rationale in the VA examination opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate VA audiological examination, and further evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss effective September 24, 2019, finding that there was actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's disabilities arose from his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss resulted in no worse than Level III hearing acuity, while his tinnitus was already at the maximum schedular disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for increased disability ratings for cervical strain and degenerative arthritis, left shoulder traumatic rotator cuff lesion residuals, right knee arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, chronic bronchitis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the June 2023 rating decision on appeal did not provide an adequate rationale regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss had its onset in service or is otherwise related to a service-connected condition. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to obtain a proper medical opinion.

The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but remands the case to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's military service and his current hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence when readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's cause of death is being remanded due to a duty to assist error regarding his service-connected heart condition and other disabilities. The Board will seek a medical opinion on whether these conditions contributed to the Veteran's respiratory failure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 10 percent disability rating for bilateral serous otitis media and hearing loss, with chronic suppurative otitis media and vertigo was denied as his original claim to reopen service connection was received on June 1, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back, and shoulder disorders. The wrist and right knee disorder claims are remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a scar of the forehead have been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for left knee and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraines due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is currently incarcerated and an examination was not conducted as required by VA procedures.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence does not show a current disability for VA purposes due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and clarifying the Veteran's work history.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development needs, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to deficiencies in the April 2017 VA examination, and the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being reviewed again for possible service connection.