Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA clinical records.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lateral collateral ligament sprain, left ankle is being remanded as he has submitted evidence indicating an increase in his occupational impairment since the October 2016 examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and entitlement to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss are being remanded due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability is being remanded as there was no medical evidence of any pre-service injury or condition, and the need for an examination with opinion regarding whether it clearly and unmistakably preexisted service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability is being remanded due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner. The need for an examination with opinion regarding whether it was related to a February 1988 inservice incident is also needed.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as there are inextricably intertwined issues that must be addressed first.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The appeal of the service connection claim for sleep disorders is granted, but remanded due to new evidence. Other issues are also remanded.

The Board has determined that the November 2018 rating decision should be remanded to issue a Statement of the Case regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The issue of service connection for this condition is now pending and will be reviewed with a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for hearing loss was dismissed.,Service connection for sleep apnea, left ankle gout, right ankle gout, left foot gout, and right foot gout were granted as secondary to hypertension.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted as secondary to residual fracture of the left ankle and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure and no current disability meeting VA standards.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, headache disorder, and urinary problems/condition was denied. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death because there was no indication that his causes of death were related to service, specifically due to a lack of submitted death certificate.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted.,Right ear hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 6100 due to the absence of any significant hearing impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, and psychiatric disabilities are currently pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service and no causal relationship to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's reports of onset in the 1970s are not consistent with his lack of treatment or complaints prior to this time.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current disability is etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. The claim for tinnitus is granted due to the Veteran's competent testimony of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss secondary to migraines, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have started in service and has continued since then.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective March 25, 2022. The appeal is also for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, but the grant of this rating was not eligible for attorney fees as it was an initial decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with anxiety), headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and bad teeth are all granted. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from the Veteran's in-service hospitalization.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be at Level II in the right ear and Level IV in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current hearing loss and active service. The Veteran's hearing was normal upon separation from service, and he did not experience hearing changes until many years after service.