Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, and CFS. The Veteran's hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy, shoulder disability, knee meniscal tear, knee limitation of extension, knee scars, GERD, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and PTSD were also not rated higher than their current levels.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for cardiac arrhythmia and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and her military service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss was granted a disability rating of 20 percent from January 30, 2019 to October 4, 2022.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for tinnitus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability under VA standards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss based on the results of a March 2023 VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection for chronic headaches was granted, while claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, a higher rating for contusion of the left great toe, and an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis were denied.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for vertigo and a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from August 30, 2023 to December 21, 2023, but denied a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss at any time during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability close to or during the period on review.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) as he does not meet the criteria for an increased rate based on his service-connected disabilities.

The duplicate appeal seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to an erroneous docketing.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of new and relevant evidence, but remanded the issue for further development.

The Board granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma and a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for other specified trauma-and-stressor-related disorder, while denying increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right lower radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, chronic rhinitis, tension headaches, and mitral valve prolapse.

The Board granted service connection for multiple psychiatric and physical disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot disability, left lower extremity sciatica, low back disability, and left arm disability.

The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2022 for the award of service connection for chronic sinusitis but denied earlier effective dates and initial compensable ratings for hearing loss and lymphomas. The claims for a back disability, thyroid disability, gallbladder disability, and a 10 percent evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his in-service noise exposure.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss effective September 21, 2014, but denied a compensable rating from September 3, 2010, to September 21, 2014.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss, to include on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 16, 2014, as the evidence did not show that he was precluded from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 4, 2021, and a higher rating thereafter. However, the Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.