Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for reducing ratings for bilateral hearing loss and migraine headaches, as well as claims for increased ratings for PTSD and colon cancer, has been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient examination findings, particularly regarding the use of medication in assessing the severity of the disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of discharge from active duty.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for GERD, right ear hearing loss, and a respiratory disability due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. A new VA examination is required to address whether these conditions are related to service, including noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and right ear hearing loss as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, and left knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an adequate VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee scar disabilities, have resulted in his inability to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on the combined effects of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been dismissed because the Veteran requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but denied it for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and consideration of all evidence, including recent medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service onset or chronicity of symptoms within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's current hearing loss was not shown during service and post-service noise exposure does not establish a temporal relationship with his disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, left hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete examinations and lack of updated medical records.

The Veteran's TDIU rating was granted from May 23, 2012. The Board denied an earlier effective date for the TDIU.,The Veteran's eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35 was also granted from May 23, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine whether service connection for a right ear drum perforation should be granted and if an earlier effective date for the 60% rating of his heart disability can be established.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a head injury and increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to procedural errors in the appeal process.