Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood is found to be the primary cause of his currently diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD).,Bilateral hearing loss is granted as a result of noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded due to the need for further development.,An effective date prior to December 4, 2017 for service connection of tinnitus has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee disabilities, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss are rated at 10 percent each.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus manifested during active service and is granted. The hearing loss issue remains on appeal as remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to correct deficiencies in VA's duty to assist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of mononucleosis, pericarditis, a respiratory disorder, hearing loss in the right ear, and tinnitus have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.,There are no indications of any current diagnoses or treatment records that support the Veteran's assertions of having these conditions during service. The VA examinations did not find any current disabilities for each condition.,The Board found that the threshold element (current disability) has not been met, thus denying all claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a VA examination for bilateral hearing loss, which is related to service exposure. The Veteran's claims are pending and will be reviewed again after obtaining the necessary medical opinion.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for monthly compensation benefits associated with the grants of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as she is not an accrued beneficiary.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his right shoulder strain is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral eye disability, cervical spine disability (claimed as cervical strain), lumbar spine disability (claimed as lumbar strain), right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than an insomnia disorder (to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Prior to October 26, 2020, the rating remained at 10 percent. After that date, it was raised to 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, right and left ankle disorders, and right and left knee disorders are remanded due to the need for updated examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a June 2020 audiological evaluation report and an article on auditory thresholds among military musicians. The Veteran must provide competent and credible evidence explaining why his hearing loss and tinnitus are due to in-service noise exposure rather than pre- or post-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, anxiety and depression, and PTSD due to new evidence received since the last final rating decisions. The claims are being reopened as there is now sufficient evidence to suggest a current disability may be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a rating higher than 20 percent for left lumbar radiculopathy. The Veteran's claim for a rating higher than 20 percent for his left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and he was granted service connection for this condition. However, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his current level of hearing impairment is only III on both ears.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is denied as the earliest effective date available is June 24, 2015.