Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss and entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for the service-connected left ear hearing loss was dismissed.

The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the award of service connection for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and remanded claims related to other conditions.

The appeal for service connection for a skin disability was dismissed, and the claim for a left leg/ankle disability will be readjudicated based on new evidence. The initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, effective May 15, 2025.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for cardiac arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, and a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, functional abdominal pain syndrome with abdominal pain and bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, respiratory insufficiency and dyspnea, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability were remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment from February 13, 2019, and an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. Several service connection claims were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for pseudofolliculitis barbae and left sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia of the left leg as secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/military sexual trauma (MST) due to a need for additional development of evidence.

The Board found that the reduction in the rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss to noncompensable was proper, and denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete documentation of the Veteran's periods of active duty, including ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disabilities, as well as denied increased ratings for TBI with PTSD and headaches, and a TDIU.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable disability evaluation rating for service-connected hearing loss, an increased disability evaluation rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee strain with chondromalacia patella, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability (neck), and left shoulder disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claim for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss condition.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate VA examination that failed to address the Veteran's contentions and provide a causation opinion.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, except for an earlier effective date of November 10, 2020, for service connection for GERD.