Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent disabling for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, and related mental health conditions but denied left ear hearing loss. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, a respiratory disorder, and panic attacks were remanded.

The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was dismissed due to a procedural defect. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence of a disabling hearing loss under VA compensation criteria.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and inguinal hernias with scars. The other issues of service connection were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his military service, including conceded military noise exposure.

The Board granted service connection for cervical disc disease with radiculopathy, secondary to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The Board also granted ratings of 50%, 80%, and 40% for various neurological conditions affecting the lower extremities, as well as a rating of 60% for hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver.

The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but remanded the claim for right ear hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right knee disability, and a left knee disability as the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the March 2019 rating decision that denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and therefore denied an earlier effective date.

The Board denied increased ratings for several conditions, granted an initial rating of 70 percent for bipolar disorder, and remanded other issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss based on the results of audiometric evaluations.

The appeal for attorney fees was denied as the fee of 16% of past-due benefits was deemed reasonable based on the work performed by the representative.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss to obtain a more adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss based on the results of VA audiological examinations.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, while remanding the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 30, 2020 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for emphysema and a bilateral hearing loss disability, but denied an initial compensable rating for hypertension.