Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and earlier effective date were dismissed due to the untimely filing of his Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran is granted a separate 20 percent disability rating for his right knee meniscal tear, resolving the issue of entitlement to such.,His other issues regarding left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they do not warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting the VA definition.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.,Claims for a back disability and right and left knee disabilities are also denied as there is insufficient evidence connecting these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because he does not have a currently ratable disability owing to hearing loss that may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's rating reduction for bilateral hearing loss from 40 percent to 10 percent was not proper, and the 40 percent rating is restored. The claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria, and the evidence does not support a finding that either condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral pes planus, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board has remanded his case to consider whether he is entitled to a higher rating.,For tinnitus, the Veteran's current 10% rating is being remanded as there are issues regarding whether his reported symptoms of sleep disturbance, fatigue, and headaches are related to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has restored a 10 percent evaluation for service-connected hypertension effective January 12, 2024. The claims of entitlement to service connection for OSA and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as service-connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety condition, depression, insomnia, sleep disturbances (acquired psychiatric disorder), chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral elbow condition, ED, bilateral foot condition, bilateral hearing loss, and migraine headaches. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and he is therefore granted TDIU benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there is no current evidence of these conditions meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with the right ear not service-connected. The Board found that the evidence does not support a compensable rating for the left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim should be remanded due to multiple pre-decisional duty to assist errors and inadequate VA examination opinions. The case will be returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for migraines, left knee strain, allergic rhinitis, and ganglion cysts. Service connection was denied for left hip disability, plantar fasciitis, keratoconus, hearing loss, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

The Board has remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and back disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The appeal is also referred to the AOJ for adjudication of a claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded several service connection and rating issues due to the submission of additional evidence not previously considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations and lack of information about the qualifications of the examiner who provided the opinion on service connection.