Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as no appealable rating decision was issued within one year prior to the notice of disagreement.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a foot condition due to lack of evidence supporting a link between the conditions and the Veteran's military service. The claim for arthritis of the hands was remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing he currently has a diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.

The appeal for service connection for kidney disease was withdrawn by the Veteran, and the claims for increased ratings for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The appeal for service connection of allergies, bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee pain, low back pain, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been continuous since separation from active duty and resolving any reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation aspects of the secondary service connection theories. The AOJ is required to obtain new VA medical opinions that address whether the Veteran's current conditions are aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for PTSD, anxiety, depression, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical spondylosis as untimely filed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of hearing loss for VA purposes and the examiner did not find a link between the Veteran's hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to hearing loss. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure is conceded, but there are questions about whether his current hearing loss is related to that exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for scars due to right shoulder surgery and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, while remanding a claim for service connection for left eye condition, to include residuals of eye trauma.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for hearing loss, left ear, to obtain a new medical opinion as the previous one was found inadequate due to an inaccurate factual premise.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because the evidence did not show a current disability. New evidence received since the denial, however, shows that he has a current diagnosis of hypertension.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a skin disability were reopened due to new evidence showing current diagnoses. The claim for tinnitus was also reopened as new evidence showed it began during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of hearing loss for VA compensation purposes, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the claim of bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to active service, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss requires further review by the AOJ.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a link between the conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an additional examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's back condition is found to have begun during active service, while his hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the above-captioned claims at this time.