Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hearing loss is denied as there was no in-service noise exposure and the condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's right hand discomfort claim is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as it began during or immediately after service, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the AOJ not taking appropriate action to request clarification regarding a January 2022 private examination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the potential need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a pre-decisional error in the duty to assist. The Board cannot grant the claim at this time as there is no evidence of a compensable level of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board. The evidence showed that his hearing acuity, as measured by Maryland CNC speech recognition test and pure tone audiometry, did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and for an eye disability due to potential errors in obtaining relevant medical records.,Specifically, the Veteran's VA treatment records do not indicate that audiometric testing was performed, which is necessary to determine if a hearing loss disability exists. Additionally, no opinion regarding the relationship between any current eye disability and service participation in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) has been provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is attributable to his active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability meeting VA's definition of hearing loss.,Service connection for left and right foot conditions, including hallux valgus, is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during or after service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection for a left foot skin disability (plantar warts) is also denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate opinion.

The Board has determined that there were duty-to-assist errors prior to the September 2020 rating decision and has remanded the case for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service due to in-service noise exposure during combat.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for radiculopathy, left lower extremity; bilateral hearing loss; radiculopathy, right lower extremity; and lumbar spine condition.

The appeal has been dismissed due to an administrative error in docketing the case before the Board.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left foot condition, left shoulder arthritis, left hand index finger disability, and left leg disability as new and relevant evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral eye condition, depression, right knee degenerative arthritis, high blood pressure (hypertension), left hip arthritis (status post hip replacement), and obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are already rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations.,For his left and right hip disabilities, the Board found that ratings in excess of 10 percent were not warranted due to lack of additional functional loss or range of motion on repetitive use testing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by painful motion, has been granted a 10% rating.