Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as there is no competent evidence of current diagnoses in the record.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss. The initial compensable disability ratings for right ear hearing loss, PFB, and tinea pedis are denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to PTSD. Left ear sensorineural hearing loss is granted, while right ear sensorineural hearing loss and headaches are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and will consider each issue individually.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete STR records and an inadequate medical opinion. The claims will be reconsidered with complete STR and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to her service-connected multiple sclerosis.,Her depression appeal is dismissed due to it being a symptom of her already service-connected neurocognitive disorder.,Tinnitus was denied as there is no current diagnosis and the Veteran did not report any during active duty.,Bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of qualifying hearing loss for VA purposes.,High blood pressure, spinal fluid leak, left wrist pain, right wrist pain, back pain, and neck pain were all denied due to lack of a nexus to service.,Left shoulder pain and right shoulder pain were also denied without a clear link to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board found that a remand is required to address service connection for dermatophytosis due to duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hernia surgery abdomen scar, residuals of hernia repair surgery (other than scar), hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, nerve disability of the lower extremities (to include numbness), chronic headache disability, and gastrointestinal disability to include a functional gastrointestinal disorder are all granted. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, vertigo, low back disability, left ankle and right ankle disabilities, left arm and right arm disabilities, left elbow and right elbow disabilities, left foot and right foot disabilities, left hand little finger, right hand little finger, left hand index finger, right hand index finger, left hand long finger, right hand long finger, left hand ring finger, right hand ring finger, left hand thumb, right hand thumb, left knee, right knee, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity cold exposure, right upper extremity cold exposure, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability have also been remanded.

An effective date of June 1, 2015, but no earlier, for the award of special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance is granted.,The claim of service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing (SAH) and a special home adaptation grant were remanded due to the AOJ overlooking favorable legal determinations that greatly expanded his service-connected disability picture.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ankle and knee disabilities, low back disability, anxiety/depression, insomnia, sleep apnea, and headaches, did not begin during or are otherwise related to service. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been denied a compensable rating. The claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, hearing loss, right foot condition, and right toe condition are related to service. However, due to a lack of VA examination for his unspecified anxiety disorder prior to the initial increased rating claim, the case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric condition, have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation since November 17, 2011. The Board has granted TDIU for this period.