Hearing loss decisions — 2024

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding no evidence of worsening conditions or entitlement to a higher rating within the one-year look-back period.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since service separation. However, the evidence does not support service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted, while service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and a significant threshold shift during service.,The Veteran was also granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the current condition is related to in-service noise exposure and credible lay evidence of intermittent ringing in his ears.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, plantar fasciitis, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea due to a lack of current disability. The appeals for these conditions are being remanded as additional medical opinions are needed to address direct service connection and any aggravation by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and requires an opinion on whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim for service connection for skin condition is remanded due to the need for a TERA examination.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connected, but his right ear hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance prior to December 15, 2021 was denied as there is no evidence showing he required regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and need for a new VA audio examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error in obtaining the Veteran's personnel records. The claims are also intertwined as tinnitus may be secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be at least as likely due to his active-duty service, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service connected. The left ear hearing loss claim is remanded for further review.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and COPD, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the service-connected left ear hearing loss based on the results of audiological examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to a service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and disc disease. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss based on the mechanical application of the rating schedule to the audiometric evaluations.