Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not resulted in a compensable rating since February 1, 2022.

The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for the service-connected actinic keratosis prior to August 20, 2018, and remanded other issues related to the same condition as well as a separate claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability based on the results of a March 2023 VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as there are no diastolic or systolic blood pressure readings meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.,No new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the bilateral hearing loss disability issue. The claim remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's disabilities are related to her active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, finding no current diagnosis or chronicity in service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for stomach cancer with metastasis to the liver and throat, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss disability have been denied.,There is no evidence of these conditions being related to service or exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found no evidence to support an earlier effective date than July 22, 2021, the date of his initial claim.,For the initial rating claims, the maximum schedular rating (10%) for recurrent tinnitus has been assigned, and there is no legal basis to award a higher rating. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as Level I under Table VI, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ear high frequency hearing loss and left knee disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show worsening in either condition, and thus no increase in rating was warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and an apparent inconsistency in a VA medical opinion. The Veteran's hearing loss is being reviewed for its relationship to service, specifically noise exposure.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 25, 2021 for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were continuously pursued until they were finally granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset during his active duty service.

The Veteran's initial, compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. Service connection for a respiratory disability due to in-service herbicide exposure (Agent Orange) was granted. The claims of entitlement to an initial, compensable rating for service-connected hypertension and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea were remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for GERD, migraines, and hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are now closed.

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 are related to hazardous noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion provided in October 2022 was inadequate and requires further development to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, and a request for additional records is made. The Veteran will need to provide VA Form 21-4142 for Denton Hearing Health Center and any other relevant providers.