Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right hand disability due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is reopened, but his right hand disability remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied it for right ear hearing loss. The claims of service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability evaluation for a balance disorder as a separate manifestation of his service-connected left ear hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide these issues.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss. The Board finds that new evidence was added since the last denial in 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus, due to a lack of evidence linking BPPV to active service or to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including providing a VA medical opinion regarding noise exposure during service and considering additional lay statements provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent since November 28, 2022. The Board denied a compensable rating prior to that date and denied any higher rating after it.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new examination to assess the Veteran's current hearing loss and determine if it is related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The VA audiological examinations showed that the Veteran's bilateral hearing impairment is no worse than Level II in both ears, and thus does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

Total disability due to individual unemployability is granted effective April 16, 2019 and from June 11, 2020 onward.,TDIU prior to April 16, 2019 and from December 1, 2019 to June 10, 2020 is remanded due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional procedural and evidentiary development, including verifying the exact dates of the appellant's Active Duty Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA) periods in his Army National Guard service. The AOJ is also instructed to adjudicate the claims on the merits.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder other than the service-connected IBS, kidney stones and renal insufficiency, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression, anxiety, PTSD, and sleep disorder), migraine headaches, heart disorder, bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, DVT, glaucoma, cholesterol, and fibromyalgia are all remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's service connection claims will be remanded to determine the etiology of his gastrointestinal disorders, kidney stones and renal insufficiency, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression, anxiety, PTSD, and sleep disorder), migraine headaches, heart disorder, bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, DVT, glaucoma, cholesterol, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back condition, and tinnitus have been granted.,The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for initial ratings on GERD and a right shoulder disability, as well as the denials of service connection for alopecia, bronchitis, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, lentigo, sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) have been dismissed due to his withdrawal during a hearing before the undersigned. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) has been granted.

The Board has denied an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from November 8, 2016, as the Veteran's hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on lay statements and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for psychiatric disabilities, shoulder and knee injuries, hearing loss, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The remand also includes a request to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty with the Navy Reserve.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and insomnia disorder, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of current evidence meeting VA compensation criteria.,Service connection for bronchitis/reactive airway disease is remanded for further review.,Service connection for a low back disability is remanded for further review.,Service connection for a left knee disability is remanded for further review.,Service connection for a right knee disability is remanded for further review.,Service connection for a left foot disability is remanded for further review.,Service connection for a right foot disability is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have been incurred during service due to noise exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.