Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and housebound status due to insufficient evidence regarding his need for regular aid and assistance. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the Veteran's tinnitus manifested within one year of separation from active service.,Service connection for a back disability is granted as the Veteran reported experiencing back pain during active service and has continued to experience flare-ups since then.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability of hearing loss for VA purposes.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied. The Veteran does not have a current disability of left ear hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service exposure to hazardous noise. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and bilateral hearing loss, finding no current disability or evidence of in-service injury that would support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran experienced current hearing loss disability during service and sustained acoustic trauma. Service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied due to lack of evidence of current disability or functional impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his educational and occupational background. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated as compensable, with the most probative evidence showing Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear.,Service connection for kidney cancer has been granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. Lung cancer was also presumed due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, which he asserts was caused by in-service exposure to acoustic trauma. Service connection for hearing loss is denied as the Veteran does not have a current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right ear tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 4, 2022 for service connection of right ear hearing loss and right ear tinnitus are denied.,There was no filing of a prescribed claim form before March 2015 or communication manifesting an intent to file before that date.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an upper respiratory condition was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic respiratory disability during or after service. Right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss were also denied due to lack of evidence showing the conditions manifested during service or within one year post-service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while the claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service hazardous noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that there was a duty-to-assist error and the case is remanded for further development. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with any additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service. The AOJ is required to obtain adequate medical opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to duty-to-assist errors in the October 2022 VA examination. The examiner relied solely on the absence of documentary evidence, without adequately explaining why the Veteran's hearing loss was not delayed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Board finds the Veteran's sciatic nerve pain had its onset in service and remands for a VA examination to determine if it is related.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable rating.

The appeal of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.