Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of hearing impairment meeting VA criteria for disability.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, both related to in-service noise exposure. The decision did not address the validity of the service connection theory or provide a rating assigned.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection. However, the left ear hearing loss rating remains at 0 percent.,The Board has remanded the issue of an increased rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, myelopathy of cervical spinal cord with cervical radiculopathy, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood as secondary to peripheral arterial disease, left lower extremity.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran failed to report to a scheduled VA examination without providing good cause.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a prostate disability, left ear hearing loss, low back disability, right ankle disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for lower left extremity radiculopathy but granted a 10 percent rating for the lower left extremity external cutaneous nerve of the thigh and a noncompensable rating for the lower left extremity ilio-inguinal nerve. The Board also remanded claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and otosclerosis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Bilateral Hearing Loss due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board denied entitlement to initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 17, 2019 and from February 11, 2023. For the period from December 17, 2019 to February 10, 2023, a 10 percent rating was granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA guidelines for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches (migraines) and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that his hearing did not worsen during service.,Service connection for tinea cruris is denied because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of this condition, and the STRs do not show any treatment or complaints related to it.,The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral foot tinea pedis is granted as there is evidence of a current disability (diagnosis in 1970) and the Board finds that his condition was incurred during active duty due to exposure to hot and humid environment.,Service connection for bilateral hand tremor is remanded because the VA examiner provided negative opinions without adequate rationale.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's skin disability is related to service and granted. The claims for depression, anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, hemorrhoids, diverticular disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, gall bladder disability, and hernia are denied.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted due to the balance of positive and negative evidence in his favor, considering his credible contentions of continuity of symptomatology since military discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, as they preclude him from working in environments of noise even with his hearing aids.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for an ear condition and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.