Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation due to service-connected disabilities, as additional development is needed.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorders (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder), and plantar fasciitis of the feet. The claim for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss, rated together with non-service-connected right ear hearing loss, is granted a 100 percent evaluation from February 13, 2024.

The Board remands the claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for right ear hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The appeal resulted in the reopening of a claim for service connection for a skin condition, but denied service connection for both the skin condition and bilateral hearing loss. Additionally, an earlier effective date was granted for an increased rating of 50 percent disabling for an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss based on the audiometric evidence showing noncompensable levels of hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran and finding that his hearing loss had onset during active service and was related to military acoustic trauma.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a skin disorder characterized as skin lesions and basal cell carcinoma, but dismissed the appeal regarding thyroid cancer.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and left sciatic radiculopathy as the evidence of record did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service. The issues related to pain of lumbar spine, left foot condition (pes planus and plantar fasciitis), and right foot condition (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) are remanded for further development.

The Board denied entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right epididymitis and a compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss, but remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and service connection for hypertension.

The appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss as it is less likely than not that the condition began during or was caused by active service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board granted service connection for left knee disability, now diagnosed as chondromalacia patellae, and denied the remaining claims.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, while denying service connection for hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and GERD based on the evidence supporting a nexus to in-service noise exposure.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss due to missing audiogram and a potentially rushed examination.