Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied, and his sleep apnea claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for non-service connected pension and special monthly pension (Aid and Attendance/ Housebound status) are remanded due to incomplete adjudication of these issues. The AOJ is required to consider all evidence added to the claims file since the December 2017 SSOC, including any new evidence related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability. The cases are remanded to allow for further development and examination.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted in September 2017. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining community care records and VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left foot condition, but granted service connection for tinnitus.,Service connection was not established for the umbilical hernia as it is considered a pre-existing condition that did not worsen during service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and cervical spine disability, but denied service connection for broken nose. The Veteran's right foot stress fracture is now rated at 10%.,Service connection was established for left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was also established for cervical spine disability and broken nose (left nostril recurrent nosebleed) based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss from June 21, 2020 to April 10, 2021. The Veteran's claim was previously denied as not meeting the criteria for an initial compensable rating and later granted a 10 percent rating effective February 7, 2015.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the medical opinions provided do not support a finding that his hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's GERD and Barrett's esophagus were incurred during service. The claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, back, bilateral flat foot, right ear hearing loss, tonsil problems, and obstructive sleep apnea are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraines, vertigo, and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran must be provided with new VA medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his migraine disability, vertigo disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a current disability or a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not interfere with his ability to work, thus the claim for a combined noncompensable evaluation is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active-duty service, including in-service noise exposure. The appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, and knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen any of these claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions, and the current disabilities were not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use for his service-connected right knee disability.,The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of left little toe fracture, tinnitus, and bilateral foot metatarsalgia with right foot degenerative arthritis, did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 30, 2017.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had a combined 70% service-connected disability rating at the time of his death. However, since none of his service-connected disabilities were rated as totally disabling, the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are not met.