Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen his claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The low back disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, a residual of meningitis, are rated at 50 percent since April 24, 2022.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded for additional development and clarification of his conditions, exposure basis, and theories of entitlement. The issues include bilateral hand disability, hypertension, cervical degenerative disc disease, lumbar degenerative disease, respiratory disability (asthma), bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and fibromyalgia have been denied. The Veteran has been granted a 50% rating for migraine headaches, effective August 1, 2014, with no higher ratings allowed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer, IBS, and an undiagnosed illness manifested by joint pain, fatigue, and memory loss is remanded. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by exposure to in-service hazardous noise.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a low back disability was granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied, but the case for service connection of a right knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating for PTSD is dismissed. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no persuasive evidence that the condition began during service or is related to a service-connected injury.,The Veteran's claims for headaches and vision loss were also denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional development due to unclear service dates and need for medical opinions on right knee disorder and pancreatic cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right hand injuries and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since March 19, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for OSA was granted. Entitlement to a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability during the pendency of the claim and insufficient evidence to link these conditions to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right ear hearing loss, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, neck disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. The reasons include inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a compensable rating prior to September 13, 2023 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and lumbosacral strain, as well as service connection for sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension, was denied. The Board found the evidence did not support higher ratings or establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether these conditions are related to service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further clarification and examination regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss. The claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.