Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board granted earlier effective dates of October 25, 2021, for the award of service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder and bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, low back problems, bilateral hearing loss, gout, and plantar fasciitis is dismissed.

The appeal of the service connection claim for left ear hearing loss was dismissed due to untimeliness. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction over the July 2020 deferred decision.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability as the evidence did not support that it was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The rejection letters issued on November 25, 2022, July 18, 2023, and March 27, 2024, are void. The Veteran's claims for initial separate ratings in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, entitlement to initial separate 10 percent ratings for bilateral knee instability, a non-initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, an earlier effective date, and TDIU have been remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and headaches or migraines, but denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection, special monthly compensation, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for left knee instability and remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, right foot disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied the remaining claims, including higher ratings for left shoulder strain with labral tear, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, and bilateral foot pain.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on the Veteran's competent and credible lay statements regarding in-service noise exposure, hearing loss, and tinnitus symptoms.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, and periodontal disease based on new evidence. Tinnitus was also granted service connection. However, right ear hearing loss and a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss based on audiometric test results.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shin splints and hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for nerve conditions of the extremities, a neck condition, a right ankle condition, and right ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of current disability or nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD, and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for insomnia disorder with anxious distress.