Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a potential material change in symptoms and the need for new examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD, lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and left knee disability are all granted. The effective dates for these grants are the date of claim (April 9, 2014 for PTSD, May 20, 2015 for other disabilities).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back injury disability and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his eye disability (dry eye syndrome) due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that additional evidence must be considered before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues have been remanded to allow for consideration of new and pertinent evidence.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure VA fulfills its duty to assist the Veteran in obtaining relevant private treatment records. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right knee strain, and left knee strain are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, chronic right inguinal ligament and hamstring strain, and bilateral hearing loss disability are all granted. The rating for the latter is increased to 50 percent effective January 23, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and TDIU as part and parcel of these increased rating claims. The audiogram results from the October 2022 VA examination are missing from the claims file.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and left focal mononeuropathy of the long thoracic nerve were granted initial ratings. The left ear hearing loss claim was remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to incomplete personnel records and the need for further medical examinations.

Your claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted in full, and the Board is dismissing your appeal as moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to attend VA examinations. The Veteran provided good cause for missing the initial examinations, and he is being asked to undergo new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. Additional development is needed with addendum VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate consideration of medical treatise evidence in the July 2022 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been granted. The appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations for determining the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which is claimed as related to his military service. The Veteran was provided with a new VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as it has been granted in full. The appeal regarding obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to July 3, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied because it is not factually ascertainable that the disability increased in severity within one year prior to July 3, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to June 17, 2005.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for TBI, lumbosacral strain and right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss disability, and PTSD evaluation. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.