Hearing loss decisions — 2024

Service connection is granted for dizziness as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for memory loss. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of memory loss or functional impairment from it.,Service connection is granted for nausea as secondary to service-connected headaches.,Service connection is denied for right ear hearing loss disability due to lack of evidence showing noise exposure in service.,Service connection is denied for broken nose. There is no evidence of a current injury or functional impairment related to the claimed event.,Service connection is granted for fatigue as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for irritable bowel syndrome. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis and there is no evidence of symptoms from it.,Service connection is denied for low back disability. There is no evidence of a current injury or functional impairment related to the claimed event.,Service connection is denied for right flat foot. There is no evidence of a current injury or functional impairment related to the claimed event.,Service connection is denied for skin disability (claimed as skin rash, dermatitis and hives). The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis and there is no evidence of symptoms from it.,Service connection is denied for sleep apnea. There is no evidence of a current injury or functional impairment related to the claimed event.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss may be related to in-service noise exposure, but more evidence is needed regarding whether it is also linked to herbicide exposure.

The appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any in-service noise exposure did not cause or aggravate his current condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, back pain, left thumb disability, and PTSD due to missing service treatment records.

The Board has determined that there was an implicit finding of new and relevant evidence by the RO with respect to the Veteran's claim on appeal, leading to a remand for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding the ratings for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD as the appellant requested withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no new and relevant evidence to warrant readjudication.,Service connection for paralysis of the sciatic nerve (peripheral neuropathy, left foot) and right foot have both been granted due to equipoise in the evidence supporting their secondary nature to a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a compensable rating as his diastolic pressure was never predominantly 100 or more and he does not require continuous medication for control.,Total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to inextricably intertwined with service connection claims.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective December 11, 2009.,The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, back disability, and GERD have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are denied as not related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for an increased rating for right chronic wrist sprain, a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, and service connection for thoracolumbar strain and thoracic scoliosis (claimed as upper back condition).

The Board has reviewed the evidence submitted since the October 20, 2020 rating decision and found it not relevant to the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Therefore, the claims are denied.

The appeal for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating claims related to anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, a nerve condition, and a right knee disability. The Veteran's hypertension was not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, tinnitus, and plantar fasciitis have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities of these conditions at the time of filing or during the pendency of the claim.,Service connection has also not been granted for rhinitis, migraine headaches, and OSA (secondary to PTSD). These claims are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their onset in service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including right ear hearing loss, tinea unguium, actinic keratosis, and left calf pigmented nevus, have been rated as non-compensable. The three painful left shoulder surgical scars, left ankle achilles tendinitis, and right ankle achilles tendinitis are each rated at 10 percent.