Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active military service due to noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. However, the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the October 2022 VA audiological opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to low back, left knee, left hip, and right hip disorders have been remanded due to inadequate VA opinions. The Board requires an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there is not an approximate balance of evidence in favor of the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to in-service noise exposure, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that none of his service-connected conditions were a disease, injury, or complication that directly caused his death.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for a prostate disability, as well as his claims for increased ratings for sciatic nerve radiculopathy left lower extremity, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran withdrew his requests for hearings and all of his pending appeals.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for prostate cancer. The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied, and his initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements are credible and sufficient to establish a continuity of symptomatology from service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability in the left ear.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service. The AOJ needs to obtain an addendum opinion from a medical expert to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted as service-connected. Service connection for left and right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and persists. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no persuasive evidence linking the condition to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active-duty service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted, with a 50% disability rating effective September 6, 2022. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right ear hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for PTSD with anxiety is denied. The Board notes that the evidence does not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD and finds no causal relationship between service and the diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder.,The claims for bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, and lumbar radiculopathy are remanded due to new evidence received in 2023 and potential exposure to toxic chemicals during service.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded. The Veteran's claim for lumbar radiculopathy remains pending.,The claims for bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, and asthma are remanded due to the need for a TERA memorandum and ILER report.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent VA examination showing Level I hearing acuity in both ears. The Board found that this level of hearing impairment does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder disability, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for various conditions were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The decision did not specify a particular effective date.