Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to lack of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted. The Board found that the evidence, including his statements and VA examination results, raised a reasonable possibility of establishing a current disability. Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (adjustment disorder, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder).

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral vision impairment, chronic chest pain, and anal fissures have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection cannot be granted because the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a qualifying chronic disability or any other disability for VA benefits purposes.

The Veteran's residuals of right wrist ganglion cyst were granted service connection as it was caused by an in-service right wrist ganglion cyst.,Service connection for a right ankle disability was denied due to the periodic flare ups not being causally related to active duty service.,Service connection for hemorrhoids was denied as there is no current evidence of a disability or impairment associated with them.,The left elbow condition was denied as it did not onset during his active duty service and there were no symptoms reported after separation.,Bilateral hearing loss was denied due to the absence of a current diagnosis meeting VA criteria for a disability.,Service connection for a scar from left inguinal hernia repair was denied as there is no evidence of such a condition.,Right foot condition, including plantar fasciitis, was remanded as further examination and opinion are needed.,Cervical spine condition and high blood pressure were also remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, and lumbosacral strain has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.,The Veteran's appeal for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and an acquired psychiatric disorder has also been remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to notification issues regarding a VA examination for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current address needs to be confirmed and he will need another VA examination to determine his current severity of service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal of his claims for bilateral hearing loss, fatigue (claimed as chronic fatigue syndrome), and OSA has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for fatigue and OSA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service in June 1996 is unclear and needs to be verified. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 28, 2021 was denied. The Board found that the audiometric results showed a level of hearing loss compatible with a noncompensable rating.,For the period after May 28, 2021, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not have its onset during his active-duty service and is not related to noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to incomplete medical opinions and new arguments presented by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, low back disorder, depression, knee disorders, foot disorders, and ankle disorders have been dismissed as the Veteran opted into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) by submitting a VA Form 10182 within 60 days of receiving a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a significant threshold shift in his left ear during service and concluding that his current hearing loss is more likely due to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss disability, and hypertension are all found to be related to her active service.

This decision dismisses the Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae. The Veteran's tinnitus and headaches are granted service connection, but his left ear hearing loss, depressive disorder with anxiety, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and scar on the head remain remanded for further development.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. Headaches are also granted as related to an in-service fall.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the cases of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence. The claims are now pending again, requiring further development including toxic exposure evaluations.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to inadequate opinion regarding etiology and consideration of pre-existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives and insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing audiogram records, and requests that these be included in the claims file.