Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 22, 2017, to April 21, 2024.

The Board granted an initial 50 percent rating for migraine headaches and denied a compensable rating for tinea corporis, service connection for right ear hearing loss was granted, while dizziness, right elbow condition, and hernia condition were denied.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and a right knee condition, but reopened the claim for right ear hearing loss. All other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for right foot pes planus and a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability, but granted a 30 percent disability rating for radiculopathy, femoral nerve, left lower extremity (LLE) and right lower extremity (RLE), and denied a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus were dismissed due to the untimely filing of a Notice of Disagreement.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for kidney disease and an increased rating for hearing loss due to untimeliness of the Veteran's appeal, while remanding the claims for service connection for hypertension and a neck disability for further development.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a procedural defect in the Veteran's docket election.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining potentially relevant Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are attributable to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for a new nexus opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the weight of evidence did not support a finding that it began during active service, within one year of separation from active service, or was otherwise caused by his active service.

The Board remands the matter for readjudication due to an error in satisfying a statutory duty regarding notification of the Veteran's right to a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence was in approximate balance. Other claims were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for hearing loss to obtain a medical opinion addressing the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and the relationship between his current hearing loss and such exposure.

The Board granted service connection for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) and lumbosacral strain. The appeal was denied for facial scars, increased ratings for cervical spine DDD with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, left knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tear with chondrosis, limited flexion, and bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was denied as the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.