Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the evidence is evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss was related to service. The decision on this issue remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is found to be secondary to his BPPV, and he is granted service connection for BPPV. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied extraschedular ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss, finding that the Veteran experienced reduced hearing acuity during service and since then. The decision is based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are considered presumptively service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's current tinnitus is presumed service-connected as it has been shown to be continuous since his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a VA examination and additional development due to insufficient evidence to resolve the Veteran's contention that his bilateral hearing loss is related to service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for a new evaluation considering his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits has been dismissed. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the claims and the appeals were not properly perfected.

The Board has dismissed the claim for right ear hearing loss as it was granted in a prior decision. The left ear hearing loss issue is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to evidence showing his service-connected disabilities make him unable to work in a physical environment, and he is not meeting the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for diabetes mellitus is secondary to presumed herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure, but he does not have current hearing loss as defined by VA standards.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and chronic disability due to anger issues, all of which are associated with his 2008 deployment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or causation.

The Board has remanded several claims related to service connection, effective dates, and ratings for various conditions including sinusitis, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, a scalp scar, traumatic brain injury (TBI), PTSD, and alcohol abuse disorder. The AOJ is instructed to consider all additional evidence received since the last adjudication in February 2020 and March 2020.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea as the evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to active military service.

The Board has granted reopening of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection is now established.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and low back disability due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service noise exposure and injuries are considered credible.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic neuropathy right lower extremity are all granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Korea.,The Veteran's diabetic neuropathy left lower extremity is also granted as service connected due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and depression have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these issues as the Veteran withdrew his claims. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right lower leg condition and a left lower leg condition.