Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss for VA purposes.,The right ear condition, hypoglycemia, and earlier effective date for hypertension claims have been withdrawn by the appellant (or his authorized representative).,The right arm/wrist condition was granted by a previous rating decision. The appeal for this issue is dismissed as moot.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension has been remanded due to lack of VA examination.,The claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, skin condition (claimed as dermatitis and/or eczema), left hip condition, right shoulder condition, and right hip condition are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's hearing loss and IHD have been rated based on the severity of their current conditions, with no higher ratings granted.,The Veteran's hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable rating prior to October 22, 2015, and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent from October 22, 2015 to January 15, 2023, and a noncompensable rating from January 16, 2023.,The Veteran's IHD has not met the criteria for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent prior to April 12, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of epididymitis and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, respiratory disability, restless leg syndrome, right wrist and knee disabilities, cardiac disability, lumbar spine disability, fibromyalgia, hand tremors, headache, fatigue, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions due to lack of current diagnoses or causal links.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease is not found to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and is denied.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent from June 3, 2019, through May 15, 2023, and at 70 percent since May 16, 2023. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's urticaria with angioneurotic edema has been rated at 10 percent. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, effective December 19, 2023. The issue of when the benefits should have started is not before the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, lung condition due to asbestos exposure, and non-prostrating posttraumatic headaches. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, but the claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM), due to heart disability and/or medications taken therefor.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of left-hand injury, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to hazardous noise during service. Service connection is also granted for residuals of a left-hand injury sustained in service.

The Veteran's bilateral gynecomastia was denied as it did not manifest in service or for years thereafter and has not been shown to be related to his military service.,The Veteran's COPD with pulmonary nodules was denied as the evidence does not show that FEV-1, FEV-1/FVC, DLCO (SB), or maximum oxygen consumption meets the criteria for a 60% rating.

The appeals for service connection and increased disability ratings have been dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded, as are the appeals for vertigo, weak bone density, and a chronic skin condition.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claims for migraine headaches and tinnitus are granted. The effective date of the award for service connection remains January 29, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 70 percent since February 23, 2016. The Board has remanded the issues of TDIU prior to February 23, 2016 and SMC based on deafness in both ears prior to March 25, 2019.

The Board has identified several issues on appeal, including claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider all evidence, including new VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, PTSD with alcohol and substance abuse, and left shoulder pain due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is currently incarcerated and VA examinations have not been conducted.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for multiple myeloma, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. Additional development is required including obtaining dose estimates from the Under Secretary for Health.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, finding that his condition did not warrant such a rating based on VA examination results.