Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for PTSD, while granting service connection for a left knee disability. The issues of TDIU, headaches, tinnitus, and allergic rhinitis were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied the claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for right ankle degenerative changes, and service connection for lupus nephritis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability, and dismissed the appeal for tinnitus as untimely.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and a lower back disability due to improper concurrent elections of review options. The claims for gallbladder disorder, gastral hernia, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities.

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

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss to correct duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate medical examinations and opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of various conditions due to insufficient development and failure to properly address toxic exposures in service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flatfoot, and headaches due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The appeal of the service connection claims for spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was dismissed due to untimely submission of a VA Form 10182.

The Board denied service connection for depression, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and headaches. The appeal regarding the issue of service connection for headaches was dismissed due to a procedural defect. Colon cancer, status post colectomy as secondary to colon cancer, and abdominal scar status post colectomy were remanded for initial AOJ consideration.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for a thyroid disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, while denying service connection for hypertension, a left arm disability, a left lower extremity neurological disability, a right lower extremity neurological disability, and left knee pain. The Board also granted ratings of 70%, 10%, and 30% for posttraumatic stress disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, dry eye syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome, respectively.

The Board denied increased ratings for tinnitus, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied a disability rating greater than 50 percent for chronic adjustment disorder with mixed emotions and conduct, finding the Veteran's symptoms consistent with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board readjudicated the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a respiratory disability, and a skin disability based on new and relevant evidence. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep impairment, hypertension, impaired vision, residual disability from vasectomy, and a compensable rating for scars were denied.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 9, 2020 for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for asthma, a thoracolumbar spine disorder, and a right shoulder disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition and a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent disabling).

The Board denied an initial compensable rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence did not support a current disability.

The Board denied a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection, an initial compensable rating for a bilateral eye disorder, and other orthopedic conditions.