Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 14, 2023, and a rating greater than 40 percent thereafter.

The appeal for service connection for hearing loss was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was dismissed as it was not timely filed.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea but denied service connection for skin condition, bilateral hearing loss, and upper respiratory condition. The effective date for the granted conditions is February 14, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for GERD and hypothyroidism, denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for laryngectomy status post throat cancer, erectile dysfunction, residuals of meningoencephalitis: word finding difficulty, loss of balance, and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria. The Board also granted a 20 percent rating prior to March 19, 2024, for residuals of meningoencephalitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to obtain a more complete medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for chronic right wrist sprain and bilateral hearing loss, but denied an initial compensable disability rating for the right lower abdomen scar.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and denied the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, increased rating for somatic symptom disorder with persistent depressive disorder and intermittent explosive disorder, and increased rating for left ankle sprain.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee chronic gouty arthritis, right knee chronic gouty arthritis, and left ankle lateral ligamentous laxity. The claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as earlier effective dates, were denied.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and that the Veteran's conceded noise exposure during active service caused his hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his current disability is related to in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, but denied it for right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss based on the results of a 2020 audiological examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis, granted service connection for tinnitus, and remanded claims related to the right ankle, low back, and residuals of a right triquetral fracture.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and increased the rating for major depressive disorder to 50 percent, while denying increased ratings for allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, and external hemorrhoids.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, but remanded several other claims including an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, prostate disability, COPD, coronary arteriosclerosis, femoral artery disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, dry eye condition, liver disease, toenail fungus, headaches, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection for colorectal polyps was granted, while the claims for right ear hearing loss and other conditions were denied or partially granted. The PTSD with alcohol use disorder with TBI received a 70 percent rating.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, a left leg disability, a left foot disability, a left knee disability, and a right knee disability to the AOJ for further development.

The Board granted service connection for hearing loss, neuropathy, prostate condition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart condition, and vertigo based on the evidence of record.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and remanded several other conditions for further review.