Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act and denied service connection for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and remanded claims for asthma, low back, neck condition, and tension headaches.

The Board denied an increased (compensable) disability rating for left ear hearing loss as the Veteran failed to report for a necessary medical examination without good cause.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as there is an inadequate medical opinion regarding the nexus between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate as he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent, separate and distinct from the 100 percent service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic headaches, and a right elbow disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied an increased rating for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding the Veteran's symptoms were not exceptional or unusual enough to warrant a higher rating under the schedular criteria.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied it for hearing loss. The claims for headaches, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disability were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis pursuant to the PACT Act and granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, while denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical strain, right ulnar nerve disability, right wrist disability, dermatitis, RLS, CFS, and a higher rating for an abdominal disorder.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied an initial compensable rating for right knee arthritis with patellar subluxation, but granted a 30 percent initial rating for right knee arthritis with painful motion, limitation of flexion. The claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various service-connected conditions, except for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) which was granted effective August 9, 2017.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the claim for an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to obtain an addendum opinion addressing contradictory findings in the IOM report regarding delayed-onset hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss before the Board made a decision.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for COPD and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for bladder cancer and dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to untimely filing.

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

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disorders, hemorrhoids, left ear hearing loss, bowel problems, and a psychiatric disorder, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder, as well as entitlement to TDIU and SMC.