Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and left shoulder disability was denied. The Veteran received a 40 percent rating for his left shoulder disability prior to December 12, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with a rating of 100%.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss. The skin disorder claim is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's appeal concerning service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, congestive heart failure, tinnitus, and diabetes has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was denied as she did not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss.,Service connection and an initial rating of 30 percent were granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease, effective May 8, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD is denied. The Board finds that there is no medical or scientific evidence to support a relationship between the development of COPD and exposure to herbicides and/or asbestos.,The appeals for increased disability evaluations for coronary artery disease post CABG, scar, post CABG, and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed because they result from a prohibited concurrent election under the modernized review system. The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied, and the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as the audiometric testing results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating due to lack of obstruction or polyps.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete compliance with previous instructions, specifically regarding obtaining private treatment records and an addendum opinion addressing a specific audiogram from service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for lumbar strain was denied. The Board found no nexus between the in-service injury and current disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied, as the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, and flat foot are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board finds the provided examinations insufficient to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected sarcoidosis is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and keratoconus are denied for increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ear otitis media, chronic pharyngitis, and a spine disability due to inadequate VA examinations that did not consider the appellant's lay statements.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to March 17, 2021, for service connection were denied as the complete claim was not filed within one year of his intent to file a claim.,VA awarded SMC and DEA benefits based on service-connected disabilities starting from March 17, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension based on presumptive theories prior to August 10, 2022. The reasons include a failure to address lay evidence of worsening post-service and an omission of private medical records related to hypertension.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,For tinnitus, the Board found that there is at least an even balance of evidence regarding whether it had its onset in service. As a result, the claim for tinnitus has been granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board has determined that the evidence does not warrant any higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to his competency to manage VA benefits, service connection for rhinitis, and rating for right ear hearing loss has been dismissed.,No justiciable case or controversy is before the Board regarding these issues.