Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left foot condition, right foot condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition due to new evidence of worsening symptoms. The Veteran's claim for residuals of left testicular surgery is also being remanded.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric condition (major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder) due to outstanding private treatment records and unverified in-service stressor. The Veteran's claim for residuals of left testicular surgery is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a change in law regarding service connection for left ear hearing loss, which is related to ionizing radiation exposure during service. A VA examination and medical opinion are required to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's hearing loss and her TERA.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hearing loss, right knee disability, and hypertension have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, other than bipolar disorder) has been granted. The petition to reopen the claim for headaches has also been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of tinnitus was denied as it was filed within one year of separation from active duty.,The Veteran's request for a higher initial rating for tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular evaluation (10%) is already assigned.,Service connection for arthritis, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss were all granted based on in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology.,An effective date prior to September 28, 2018, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied as the claim was filed within one year of separation from active duty.,The Veteran's hearing loss is considered a secondary condition due to his already service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that it originated during active service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for adjustment disorder has been withdrawn.,His initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as his current hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lower back disability due to insufficient evidence or lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg disorder, bilateral flatfoot (pes planus), and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. However, further development is needed as the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show a nexus between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable due to the audiometric test results not meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and persisted thereafter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it is related to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain missing service treatment records and provide additional medical opinions regarding her back disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his service, including exposure to noise in shipboard environments. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to assess the Veteran's ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to January 29, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service, and for an addendum opinion on whether his prostate cancer is related to or caused by service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to account for the Veteran's audiological history and to address whether his current hearing loss disability is related to service, tinnitus, or noise exposure. The examiner must provide findings along with complete rationales.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed dizziness, which is characterized as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Additional clarification is needed in the form of an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability due to new evidence submitted by the appellant. The original claims were denied as there was no diagnosed hearing loss or chronic left knee disability, respectively. New evidence now raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board granted service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder and denied the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, and other service connection claims that were remanded.