Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and herniated intervertebral disc, left L4-5 due to a lack of new and relevant evidence.

The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to the Veteran filing a notice of disagreement prior to receiving notification of the Agency of Original Jurisdiction's decision.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and a higher disability rating for PTSD, as the evidence did not support the presence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD, as well as initial compensable ratings for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, a bilateral eye disorder, asthma, and a skin disorder were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches were granted a rating of 50 percent, and she was also granted TDIU, DEA, and SMC for the period from March 27, 2017, to August 20, 2017.

The Board granted service connection for right hip arthritis and a TDIU as of June 8, 2020, while denying increased ratings for sciatica, left hip arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's November 21, 2024 VA Form 20-0996 Request for Higher-Level Review was timely filed and the Board granted it.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a need for additional development.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss were dismissed due to untimely filing of the appeal requests.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability, but remanded the issue of a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The increased rating claim for IVDS was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board remands the service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, requiring a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, it granted service connection for headaches and remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and alcohol use disorder.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for headaches with auras and a 10 percent rating for temporomandibular joint disorders, unspecified. Service connection was denied for various conditions including disabilities causing numbness, hearing loss, hip and spine issues, chest pain, dizziness, erectile dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, wrist disability, shortness of breath, ankle and eye pain, and sleep apnea.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective March 8, 2023, but no earlier. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a current disability or that the disabilities were related to service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for hearing loss due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's in-service exposure and current condition.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were chronic in service and continuous since separation.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), but denied service connection for a right ankle disability, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, a compensable rating for renal insufficiency as a residual of rhabdomyolysis, and other claims.