Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the May 2017 VA medical opinion and the need for a new VA examination.

The appeals seeking service connection for a bilateral eye disability and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed. Service connection is granted for the Veteran's back condition, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are restored from August 3, 2023, but a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative spondylosis, L5-S1, remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, vision loss, blurred vision, dry eye syndrome, bilateral hand disabilities, and left shoulder disability are all denied due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability related to military service.,There is no indication in the STRs that the Veteran had any hearing or vision issues during his active duty. The VA examination did not find any current disabilities for these conditions either.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of current left ear hearing loss or a causal relationship between right ear hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, rotator cuff tendonitis of the right shoulder, painful surgical scars of the right lower extremity, residual scar of the right lower extremity, right ankle status post-surgery, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, and right inguinal hernia. The issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to voluntary withdrawals.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus, but denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to the record, and the Veteran did not waive AOJ consideration of this evidence. The claims will be readjudicated by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right shoulder disability resulting from a February 2018 shoulder surgery is dismissed because his service connection for the same condition has already been granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate examination.

The claim for service connection for PTSD is dismissed as moot, and the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a lumbar spine disorder, and a right foot disorder were granted. The claim for tinnitus was remanded due to inadequate medical opinion. The cervical and thoracic spine disorders and the right shoulder pinched nerve are also in need of further development.

The Veteran's claims for right knee replacement, left hip replacement, and degenerative arthritis of the spine have been reopened. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae has been granted a 10% rating. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as she does not meet the VA standards for a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in her favor.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral ear hearing loss has been reopened, but the appeal is still pending as some issues are remanded.,Service connection for left knee DJD status post TKR and a 10% rating for right knee scar have been granted. The remaining claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric condition to include PTSD, depression, anxiety, and/or trauma and stressor related disorder remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's low back, wrist, knee, and foot disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis in left knee is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis in right knee is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of hearing loss meeting VA criteria.,Effective dates were not assigned for the grants of service connection for migraine headaches, PFB, and tinea pedis due to incomplete claims.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, right ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the disabilities and active service.