Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, facial numbness (Bell's palsy), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right knee strain. The claims for a left knee strain, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, cervical neck strain, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral foot disability were remanded.

The Board remands the matter for further development to obtain a March 2024 audiogram and testing results, as they may affect the Veteran's initial rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for other specified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, somatic symptom disorder, alcohol use disorder, left hip condition, left knee condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right hip condition, right knee condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, shin splints, left leg, shin splints, right leg, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) for further development.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability, but remanded the claims for a left foot, right foot, left hip, right knee disabilities, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral mixed hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from July 1, 2016, to June 25, 2017, and beginning June 26, 2017, due to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) status post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

The Board denied service connection for eustachian tube dysfunction with bronchitis and right ear hearing loss as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, horizontal surgical scars of the anterior neck, and major depressive disorder (MDD), but granted an extraschedular total disability rating based on individual unemployability as of November 12, 2015.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating, TDIU prior to January 18, 2017, and special monthly compensation.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate VA examination opinion.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer and remanded the claims for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss for further development.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 24, 2020, and a rating in excess of 70 percent from January 24, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for a head injury disability and right ear hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for neck, low back, and bilateral foot conditions.

The appeal for service connection for hearing loss was dismissed, while the claim for GERD was granted. The Board remanded the claim for brain surgery/plates, subdural hematoma.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability but dismissed the appeals for service connection for a skin disorder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, finding no evidence that he required such assistance prior to September 21, 2022.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, denied ratings in excess of 30 percent for left and right knee strains, granted separate 10 percent ratings for painful, noncompensable limitation of flexion of the knees, granted service connection for back condition and related radiculopathies, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right shoulder condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of these conditions during the appellant's period of ACDUTRA, and the current conditions were not related to his military noise exposure.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor based on his conceded in-service hazardous noise exposure.