Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and shin splints should be remanded due to a lack of evidence in the record regarding the presence of hearing loss for VA purposes, inadequate rationale provided by the April 2022 VA examiner on the relationship between hearing loss and tinnitus, and an insufficient consideration of the Veteran's reported symptoms and continued symptomatology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing audiogram records from VA facilities. The Veteran's hearing loss condition is still under review.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were granted with effective dates of February 22, 2017. However, the Board denied earlier effective dates as there was no evidence showing a claim prior to this date.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for all listed conditions, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran's 70% rating for bilateral hearing loss is restored, a rating in excess of 10% for tinnitus is denied, and the Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The compensable rating for abdominal scars associated with esophageal cancer residuals is not granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 12, 2018 was denied.,The right shoulder disability issue is currently pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss during the period from July 13, 2010, to December 15, 2012, is denied as there is no objective audiometric data supporting such a rating. The Board found that the Veteran's dizziness and unemployment were not related to his hearing loss.

The Veteran's application to revise the September 1997 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for a compensable rating for tinnitus was denied. The appeal is also denied regarding service connection, increased ratings, earlier effective dates, and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss was less likely than not caused by or related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss as there is no current disability, the Veteran did not have a significant threshold shift in his in-service audiograms, and there is no evidence of hearing loss within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred during his military service due to exposure to hazardous noise and acoustic trauma.,The issue of service connection for hearing loss remains pending, requiring the AOJ to obtain relevant medical records and provide an addendum opinion.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during its pendency.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable (0%) due to the audiometric results showing no worse than Level I in both ears. The Board denied a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss based on the results of an audiometry study.

The Board remands the appeal for a VA examination to reconcile conflicting findings regarding hearing loss of the right ear and determine its etiology.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The appeals for service connection for depression, anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were dismissed due to untimeliness. The appeals for increased ratings of left and right hip strains are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current diagnosis or evidence that the Veteran had a hearing loss disability at any time during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is rated at 60 percent, but no higher, based on the results of his August 2021 VA examination and audiometric testing.