Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle disabilities, bilateral knee strains, and lumbar strain have been granted. However, the Veteran's right ear hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable disability rating.,The Board found that there is no evidence of current right ear hearing loss meeting VA criteria for disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected conditions.,For right knee strain, the claim is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion prior to the August 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The left ankle disability, to include degenerative changes, is denied as not being secondary to his service-connected right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain. Other claims are either denied or granted.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the lack of audiometric findings meeting VA disability criteria. The claim for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that his service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on the objective medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and mild neurocognitive disorder, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain (sciatica), right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right hip degenerative arthritis, and left hip degenerative arthritis have been denied. The decision does not address service connection for specific conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, gout, or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are now remanded for further evaluation.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for right knee degenerative joint disease and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical examinations and incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the claim for an adequate VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, including conceded in-service noise exposure.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of prostate cancer, and a right knee disorder is granted.,The Veteran's claims are supported by evidence showing in-service noise exposure and service treatment records documenting injuries to the knees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 1, 2018 due to his service-connected low back, hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities. The Board found that these conditions did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated noncompensable, and the Board has remanded for further development.,The Veteran's skin condition and OSA are related to in-service herbicide agent exposure, but a VA examination is needed to determine this.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have begun in service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with pure tone thresholds of up to 65 decibels in both ears.,His hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent under DC 7101. The Board found that his diastolic pressure has not been predominantly 110 mm or more and his systolic pressure has not been predominantly 200 mm or more, thus preventing a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuous symptoms since separation from active duty.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability that had been continuously rated totally disabling for at least ten years immediately preceding his death, or within five years of his discharge from active duty. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because he does not have a current disability, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or hearing loss.