Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to comply with a Court Order, as the prior decision did not provide proper notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for tinnitus, service connection for an ear infection, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. The left knee disability claim was remanded for further development.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders.

The claims for an earlier effective date of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, service connection for tinnitus, and service connection for left ankle disability were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability. The claims for service connection for infertility and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The appeal seeking service connection for hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran and is therefore dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as a TDIU.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypothyroidism while granting increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy in the right and left lower extremities, hearing loss (left ear), and a compensable evaluation for scars, burns (2nd degree).

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

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

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

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his current disability is related to acoustic trauma during active military service.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of January 2, 2011 for a total rating based on individual unemployability and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance. The claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates were denied.

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

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 2, 2022, but not earlier, for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted. The claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities are denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to obtain outstanding service records and adequate nexus opinions.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension but denied a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for hydrocephalus, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, colon cancer, and a reopened claim for pulmonary emboli to ensure proper procedures are followed.

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

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