Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's visual impairment was a complication of his service-connected hearing loss and if his hearing impairment prevented him from responding to fire alarms. The AOJ is required to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's sinusitis and bilateral hearing loss claims were denied, while his service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (vertigo) on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision affords the Veteran the benefit of doubt in determining that his service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his vertigo.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted a 30% rating. Service connection for COPD, emphysema, and prostate cancer are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for right thumb traumatic arthritis and dismissed his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of timely response.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted, effective from August 12, 2022 to August 22, 2023. The effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance is also granted as of August 12, 2022. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, right calcaneal spur, and left calcaneal spur were granted. The Veteran was assigned a 10% disability rating for each condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ankle pain. The claimant's private medical records showed diagnoses but no in-service events or injuries that could be linked to these conditions.,The Board also denied secondary service connection for a left ankle condition as it was not granted primary service connection for the right ankle pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional error in failing to obtain an adequate medical opinion. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since June 2014.,The Board finds that the combination of multiple disabilities, including sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, and lumbar condition with radiculopathy, has prevented the Veteran from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 31, 2019 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran required permanent assistance from his granddaughter due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and will be reconsidered by the Agency of Original Jurisdiction.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims are denied as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during service or were caused by service.,Service connection for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress was granted effective December 30, 2020. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a right rib fracture and dermatophytosis (claimed as eczema) have been granted. Claims for hyperlipidemia, elevated liver enzymes, posttraumatic stress disorder, alopecia totalis, iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee, cervical spine disability, voiding dysfunction, benign neoplasm of the skin, right ankle disability, right elbow disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability have been denied. The Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity secondary to service-connected spinal stenosis are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss did not manifest during his active service or to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active service.,The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during his active service or to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a lack of VA examination and scheduling procedures not being followed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his PTSD and vestibular condition.,VA has granted the Veteran an effective date prior to September 16, 2022, for the 100 percent rating assigned for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The claims for increased ratings of the left ankle, right knee, left knee, and right ligament conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as incurred in service due to noise exposure during military service.,The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as incurred and caused by injuries sustained during active service.