Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure in service, but further medical opinion is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation during service and concluding that the pre-existing condition worsened over time due to natural progression.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denials of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis.

Service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss is granted. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for residuals of a right wrist scaphoid fracture is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board found no evidence of worsening within two months prior to the April 2021 VA audiology evaluation.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and right ear hearing loss, finding no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of record showing the condition warranted such a rating prior to July 5, 2022.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (zero percent) due to the presence of a nonservice-connected right ear with Level I hearing acuity.,There is no evidence of current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for allergic rhinitis, left ear hearing loss, hypertension, and PTSD were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating in any of these cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered with a new medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shin splints, left shin splints, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD have been denied.,The Board found that the Veteran does not currently suffer from these conditions and there is no evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied a compensable rating. Service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, pelvis cancer, spinal cancer, prostate cancer, hepatitis C, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, ED, and liver condition are all denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation (10%) and no higher, as it does not present an exceptional disability picture for extraschedular consideration.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated at Level I, which is noncompensable. The Veteran contends that a compensable rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss due to lack of audiometric testing showing hearing loss meeting VA requirements.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for bipolar II disorder with rapid cycling and tinnitus have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for right tympanic membrane atelectasis with eustachian tube dysfunction, along with residual mixed hearing loss, has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for travel expenses reimbursement were denied because they were not filed within the required 30-day period after completing travel, despite a three-year hiatus in the filing deadline. The Veteran was unaware of this requirement and provided an exception based on his limited internet access.