Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his combat service and continues since then.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on audiometric testing results.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, have prevented him from securing or maintaining gainful employment throughout the appeal period. The Board has granted a TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 90 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, has been granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability due to missing service treatment records.,The VA examiner did not provide a sufficient rationale based on the available evidence, including the Veteran's in-service duties.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a respiratory condition due to asbestos exposure. The Veteran's military occupational specialty as a gas turbine engine, engine room operator (GSM) is considered sufficient evidence of asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during a hearing before the Board.,An earlier effective date of July 20, 2012, but no earlier, has been granted for service connection for CAD based on new evidence from in-service records.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable (zero percent) since July 2018. The most recent audiometric test in July 2023 showed a level I numeric designation for the right ear, which is consistent with the previous evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine, bilateral foot, hearing loss, gastritis, GERD, sleep apnea, headaches, vision impairment, cervicalgia, knee disabilities, hip strains, and ankle strains.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc and joint disease, diabetes mellitus, and brain tumor is remanded due to the need for further development regarding her exposure history.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including reopening of service connection for various conditions and entitlement to service connection. The decision also emphasizes the need to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied because there is no evidence of an in-service incurrence or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD, is denied due to lack of evidence establishing the in-service incurrence and nexus elements.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a traumatic brain injury with residuals were denied. The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the record since the last decision and requires further consideration. The claims for service connection are being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and TDIU prior to November 3, 2021 are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of previous examination results.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions (other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, tinnitus, and hearing loss) are all granted. The Board finds that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the remaining issues including hypertension, low back disability, ankle disabilities, knee disabilities, and Persian Gulf War illness.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being in approximate balance regarding its onset during service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right leg condition, left leg condition, vertigo, and right ear hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied prior to January 25, 2012 due to the lack of evidence showing he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.