Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss from 50% to 20%, finding that the reduction was improper due to insufficient evidence of improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, and scars status post knee replacement were denied. The appeal was remanded for further action on the issues of service connection for low back pain and right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with no specific exposure basis provided.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during his military service and has been continuous since then, meeting the requirements for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a broken tooth, head injury (TBI), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to procedural errors in scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be related to service and is denied.,Bilateral hearing loss did not meet the VA criteria for a disability, thus denial.,There is no evidence of a current left ankle disability, leading to denial.,Right ankle disability also lacks a current diagnosis, resulting in denial.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss was dismissed because the VA Form 10182, which is used to request an extension of time to file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD), was not timely filed. The Board found that good cause had not been shown due to the untimely filing.

The Veteran's TDIU is based on a single disability (vertigo) and his ischemic heart disease, which was rated at 60 percent disabling prior to December 27, 2022. Therefore, the criteria for SMC housebound benefits are met and granted effective December 29, 2014.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, as it was at Level VII. For left ear hearing loss, the Board determined there was no in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptomatology since service, and thus could not grant service connection on any basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an inadequate examination conducted prior to the September 2020 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for insomnia and dismissed the appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to untimely filing of a VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's right and left hip degenerative arthritis are granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee lateral meniscal tear.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted due to acoustic trauma in service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes has been granted, with the benefit of doubt being conferred in his favor.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable since the appeal period began. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating at any time across the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for additional medical examinations. The issues of service connection for various conditions, including right knee osteoarthritis, left knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), left hip condition, hearing loss, and cervical degenerative joint disease, will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for right and left conditions were denied. The Board found no new evidence relevant to the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of appropriate examinations and documentation regarding attempts to conduct those examinations. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee disability, left hip disability, and spine disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for tinnitus is granted. The decision also confirms the diagnosis and acknowledges in-service noise exposure as a contributing factor to the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from October 28, 2011 to April 29, 2019 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating during this period.,The Veteran is seeking an evaluation in excess of 30 percent and an earlier effective date for his major depressive disorder with an unspecified anxiety disorder from October 28, 2011 to May 5, 2019. The Board has remanded these issues due to a duty-to-assist error.