Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a right leg disability, and a left leg disability due to an AOJ's pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to provide notice of the appellant's right to a hearing.

The appeal for a compensable disability rating for hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes. The claims for right TKR and GERD were remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was granted an increased rating of 70 percent, but no higher, from December 31, 2019. Other claims were denied.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with generalized anxiety disorder, effective January 5, 2023, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal was dismissed for persistent depressive disorder as it is not clearly distinguishable from the Veteran's already service-connected PTSD.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and hearing loss right ear, other than tinnitus, to ensure that VA complies with its required duty to assist procedures.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and service connection, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus to obtain a new VA etiology opinion as the previous opinions were found inadequate.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, left leg shin splints, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right pinky finger disability, hypertension, tuberculosis, and GERD. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

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

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to the Veteran not filing a timely notice of disagreement within one year of the November 1993 rating decision.

The Board granted service connection for hearing loss but denied it for a thyroid condition.

The Board denied service connection for depression, an anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a back disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or symptoms reasonably associated with these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left knee disability, alcohol abuse disorder, and a liver condition as there was no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative before the Board promulgated a decision.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss based on the audiometric findings that did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board remands the appeal for an initial rating higher than 60 percent for Type 1 diabetes mellitus and dismisses the appeals for service connection and higher ratings for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, and right shoulder strain due to untimely notices of disagreement.

The appeal was denied for an increased rating of tinnitus and remanded for further development on other service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU), and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for service connection of various other conditions, including migraine headaches, left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss.