Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, which include bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, hearing loss, tongue cancer (residuals), and hypothyroidism.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board remands the claim for a housebound and aid and attendance examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder, but granted a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for chronic sinusitis.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a 30 percent rating for bilateral calcified pleural plaques, while denying increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. A TDIU was also granted from September 21, 2023.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder is granted an initial rating of 50 percent, and some claims for service connection are denied while others are remanded.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, while remanding claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back condition, migraines, and TDIU.

The Board denied the claims for an increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, dismissed the claim for an increased evaluation of left shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and service connection for vertigo due to untimely appeals.

The Board denied service connection for light sensitivity, bilateral hearing loss, an increased evaluation for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, an increased evaluation for tinnitus, an initial compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and an initial compensable evaluation for chronic sinusitis.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed, and the appeals for service connection for various conditions were denied. Several claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability but granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone is sufficient to grant special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound status.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding its etiology, including considering in-service noise exposure and the possibility of delayed onset hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, psychiatric disability, and multiple musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. The Board also denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 17, 2017, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a dental condition. The claim for a liver condition was remanded.

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

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 14, 2022, for the increased rating for right ear hearing loss but denied a higher rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied increased ratings for sinusitis, fibromyalgia, and IBS but granted service connection for OSA and TBI.