Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for osteomyelitis and amputation above the knee, left as secondary to osteomyelitis. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back, right and left knee disabilities, generalized anxiety disorder, other specified depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder to obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, left sciatic radicular pain, and headaches. It also granted an initial rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a rating of 30 percent for lipoma of the skin on the back of the head. The claims for increased ratings for right knee strain with shin splints and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied, as was the claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, while remanding the claims for a lumbar spine condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hip disorders.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions. The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder with a 70% evaluation effective February 27, 2023, and increased the ratings for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis to 30 percent and residuals of foot injury to 10 percent.

The Board denied increased ratings for right trochanteric pain syndrome and right knee strain, granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee limitation of extension, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident, genitourinary disorder, bilateral hearing loss, left eye disorder, and right eye disorder.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during its pendency.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, an initial compensable disability rating for rhinitis, and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for reactive airway disease. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, functional abdominal pain syndrome, and headaches were remanded.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and valvular heart disease, as they require further development due to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during military service.

The Board remands the claims for re-adjudication due to new and relevant evidence being submitted, including private treatment records related to the claimed conditions.

The veteran has withdrawn the appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board remands the service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss to correct a duty to assist error related to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for alcohol use disorder, remanded the claim for a dental disorder, and remanded the initial compensable rating for hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence did not support a higher disability evaluation.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, headaches, left knee MCL strain with limitation of flexion, and left knee MCL strain with bracing post-surgery, but granted service connection for CFS, left leg RLS, and a 10 percent rating for scar, left lower extremity knee. The effective date for the 70 percent rating for PTSD and the 30 percent ratings for headaches, OSA, and scar, left lower extremity knee were also granted from April 26, 2013.

The Board granted a disability evaluation of 30 percent for the Veteran's headaches, but denied service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and right lower extremity nerve disabilities. The claims for PTSD, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, tinnitus, and hearing loss were remanded.