Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on a theory of continuity of symptomatology.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The claims for other conditions were remanded.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and rating of hearing loss, as he felt the current 100% total and permanent rating was sufficient.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a need for additional evidence and proper duty-to-assist errors.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during its pendency.

The Board remands the issues of character of discharge, service connection for PTSD and MDD with sleep disturbances, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's mental state at the time of misconduct leading to his discharge and a need for further development.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis from December 3, 2014 to October 4, 2021.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, as the evidence did not support a finding that his current condition was related to an in-service event or injury.

The Board granted service connection for left ear and right ear hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, affording the benefit of the doubt.

The Board denied service connection for a flat foot disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, as the evidence did not support an increase in severity during service or a causal relationship to noise exposure.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the audiometric results did not meet the criteria for higher ratings during the relevant time periods.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions were not related to his military service or a 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 military service.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for PTSD and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to procedural errors in filing appeals.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on the evidence of in-service noise exposure.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and initial ratings due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Board dismissed various duty to assist errors during higher-level review relating to the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, and a back disorder.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board denied a compensable rating for hypertension and remanded the issues of increased ratings for left knee, right knee, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities due to inadequate medical evidence.