Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence being added to his claims file after the February 2020 SOC. The VA examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether the Veteran's conditions are related to service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded this case due to non-compliance with previous directives and needs an addendum opinion from an otolaryngologist regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, its relation to service, and whether it is related to or aggravated by tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for several issues including service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee strain, PTSD, and right shoulder subacromial bursitis with labral tear. Additionally, the effective dates for certain conditions are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claustrophobia and insomnia disorder have been granted service connection, as well as his PTSD, MDD, phobic anxiety disorder, claustrophobia, and agoraphobia. His tinnitus has also been granted service connection.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied due to the lack of a compensable degree of hearing impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The examiner found current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss but opined that it is not at least as likely as not caused by or the result of military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral hearing loss disability due to concerns about the qualifications of the VA examiner who conducted the October 2023 examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of the Veteran's TDIU claim. Updated VA examinations are also needed to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period between February 21, 2013, to May 15, 2014.,TDIU was denied for the period from May 16, 2014, to August 31, 2020. The Veteran's combined rating at this time did not meet the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine disability is granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective March 29, 2018.,PTSD is granted a 70 percent evaluation with an effective date of March 29, 2018.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings and service connection in multiple cases, including left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, right pectoralis major condition, avulsion fracture of the distal triquetrum, left hearing loss, TDIU rating, right hearing loss, vision/eye condition, right knee condition, and left shoulder condition. The Board has dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and tinnitus due to incomplete records from VA treatment centers. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records and readjudicate the cases.

The Board has identified additional evidence that was not considered in the previous decision and has requested a waiver for its consideration. The claims are being remanded to allow for readjudication of these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear. The TDIU claim is remanded as part of this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to asbestos exposure, hearing loss disabilities, and a right knee disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The cervical spine and wrist nerve disabilities remain under consideration.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of hearing loss and bilateral knee disability due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the remaining issues on appeal due to procedural errors in recognizing the Veteran's VA Forms 10182 and placing his appeal on the AMA Hearing Docket. The Veteran's appeal is now under the legacy system, and he must file a timely VA Form 9 or VA 10182 to continue his appeal.