Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, strep throat, and upper respiratory infection as there is no current disability found in the record.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are more likely attributable to non-service-connected Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service. The Board found the evidence does not support a nexus between his current bilateral hearing loss and his active service.,The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service, as he reported experiencing symptoms since 1969. Subsequent manifestations were noted during the appeal period. Therefore, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's Parkinson's Disease with balance impairment is rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 8004-6204, and a higher rating is not granted.,Separate ratings are granted for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, urinary problems, difficulty chewing, swallowing, and drooling, left sided speech changes, and right sided speech changes associated with Parkinson's disease.,The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial 20% disability rating for bilateral dry eye with pinguecula and conjunctivitis was granted, but the other claims were denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence of a pending unadjudicated claim prior to July 12, 2022. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is set at July 12, 2022.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and left knee disability. Service connection is denied for fatigue, blurred vision, deviated septum, dyspnea (other than heart disability), and gastroesophageal reflux disease.,The Veteran's service records show he experienced symptoms of tinnitus during active duty in 1991 and his left knee injury occurred during a qualifying period of National Guard service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining private treatment records and reviewing evidence added to the claims file since the March 2023 Supplemental Statement of the Case. The Veteran's TDIU rating claim is being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular evaluation prior to May 22, 2024.

The Board remands the matter to obtain a VA TERA examination and medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's hearing loss disability is related to toxic exposure risk activity during service.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability, as the previous opinions were inadequate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following gainful employment from December 12, 2017 to December 31, 2019 on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied. The case is being remanded to provide a VA examiner with the opportunity to address the nexus between current tinnitus and in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of consideration of certain evidence and for an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, but the hearing loss disability claim requires further review.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted the claim of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board found no evidence to support higher ratings based on the available audiometric results.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, left foot disorder (hallux valgus with Hagland's deformity), right foot disorder (plantar fasciitis), and right knee disorder. The Veteran was not diagnosed with sinusitis during the appeal period.,Service connection was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral hearing loss disability, left or right foot disorders, right knee disorder, or sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of major depressive disorder was denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.,The Veteran's appeal for an increase in his bilateral hearing loss disability rating was denied as he refused to attend additional VA examinations without good cause.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of tinnitus was denied because the maximum schedular evaluation has been assigned, and no higher evaluation is warranted based on the current evidence.,Service connection for HIV was denied due to lack of a current disability. The weight of the persuasive evidence did not support finding that the Veteran had HIV.,Service connection for a left ankle disorder was denied as there was no evidence of a chronic left ankle disorder during service or within one year following discharge, and the claimant's statements were insufficient to establish nexus.

The Veteran's hearing loss and ringing in the ears do not meet VA disability criteria.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus.