Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,For the initial compensable ratings of right and left fifth finger closed fractures, the case is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA medical examination in the original decision. The Veteran's exposure to hazardous noise during service is acknowledged, but the adequacy of the VA examination is questioned.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right index finger disorder and remanded the issue of a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU grant.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left wrist disorder (carpal tunnel syndrome), and right wrist disorder (carpal tunnel syndrome). The AOJ is directed to consider these claims in their entirety.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during or are causally related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis, left leg scars, bilateral hearing loss, neurological disability of the left leg, and sinus disability have been denied. The Board is remanding the claims for erectile dysfunction, gastrointestinal disability, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,Specifically, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for hearing loss according to VA standards and has no current diagnosis of hepatitis or residuals related to a previous diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for a new VA medical opinion regarding whether the discovery and manipulation of a fractured incus during an exploratory tympanotomy procedure was reasonably foreseeable by a reasonable healthcare provider.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss beginning December 8, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss has worsened since his November 2011 VA examination and supports his contentions of worsening from December 8, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives, specifically regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to work for the period prior to January 14, 2021.

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

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet criteria for a compensable rating prior to February 27, 2023, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent from February 28, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability, service connection for tinnitus, and service connection for a hearing loss disability have been denied as the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran had the physical ability to perform the required activities but was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various musculoskeletal disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.,Service connection is denied for right ear hearing loss, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss and hypertension due to issues with the previous denials.

The Veteran's right hand calluses are denied as there is no evidence of chronicity of care for his right hand friction burn, and the VA opinions found that it is less likely than not that the current right hand calluses were caused by service. The left ear hearing loss is also denied as the auditory thresholds in both ears did not meet the criteria for a disability.,The Veteran's neck condition, memory loss due to traumatic brain injury, ulnar nerve condition, left hand and right hand nerve conditions, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), bilateral flat feet and bunions, bilateral hallux valgus/bunions, and bilateral hammer toes are all remanded as further development is needed.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these decisions are final.