Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing impairment did not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and mental health conditions, including PTSD and GAD, have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability (hearing loss and mental health conditions), in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury (noise exposure and stressors), and causal relationship between the current disabilities and in-service diseases or injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a shoulder disorder, neck disorder, hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing in-service events or injuries.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased disability ratings due to insufficient evidence and further review is required.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hearing loss is denied because there is no current disability of hearing loss that meets VA criteria.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to exposure to noise during active duty.,Bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria for these conditions.

The Board has found the records incomplete and remanded for several reasons, including obtaining updated private treatment records from the Veteran's ENT provider and VA treatment records. Additionally, a new examination is required to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability due to inadequate previous examination.

The Board has restored the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability rating from 30% to 30%, effective April 1, 2024. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to procedural errors in the VA examinations and lack of audiometric records from his active duty period.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his symptoms and limitations were manageable with current treatment.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board has remanded his service connection claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis.,Service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded due to a failure to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the separation examination report and post-service private treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The appeal for depression and anxiety secondary to PTSD is dismissed due to the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's current diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military-related noise exposure.

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 evidence of hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, a right hand disability, and a left hand disability. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death while the case was pending before the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to failure to attend VA examinations and other issues.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing acuity is no worse than Level V in the right ear and Level I in the left ear, and his ED causes loss of erectile power but no deformity of the penis.,The Veteran's skin cancer was not service connected due to lack of evidence linking it to exposure to herbicide agents. The Board found that the issue of sun exposure during service should be addressed on remand.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, left ankle sprain, and left knee condition due to procedural issues and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and basal cell carcinoma were denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active duty service.