Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and alcohol abuse disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss based on the audiometric findings.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates for posttraumatic stress disorder and left inguinal hernia, but granted an effective date of October 11, 2019, for right shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendinitis. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss as the evidence showed that his hearing impairment was no worse than Level I in either ear, which falls within the schedular criteria for a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for generalized anxiety disorder, denied compensable ratings for external hemorrhoids and sinusitis, granted service connection for migraine headaches secondary to sinusitis, and granted service connection for left foot and left shoulder conditions. The claims for increased ratings for urethral stricture, lumbosacral strain, and ulnar neuropathy were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating and service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for further development due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for further development, specifically to obtain relevant VA treatment records stored in VistA Imaging that are not currently associated with the claims file.

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

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms had their initial onset during service and have continued to progressively worsen ever since.

The Board granted service connection for depression and right knee disability, while denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus or flat feet.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss based on the mechanical application of audiometric test results to the VA rating schedule, resulting in a noncompensable Level I hearing loss.

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

The Board grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which is related to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and anaphylactic sensitivity, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical neck disability, bilateral hand nerve condition, chronic tinea pedis, left knee disability, and an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted restoration of a 10 percent disability rating for hypertension, while dismissing appeals for compensable ratings for certain surgical scars and maxillary sinusitis. The Board also remanded several issues including service connection for residuals of left varicocelectomy, to include a hydrocele, and other disability ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 USC 1318 as the criteria were not met, and remanded the service connection for cause of death due to inadequate medical evidence.

The Board denied the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.