Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year of discharge, and no credible evidence linking the current conditions to military noise exposure.

The Board denied a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and granted readjudication of the claim for left ear hearing loss due to new and relevant evidence having been received.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection and higher ratings due to untimely notices of disagreement and failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and dismissed the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to a claims processing defect. The appeal was denied for increased ratings of PTSD with depression, erectile dysfunction, and cervical and lumbar spine conditions, while these issues were remanded for further consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as dismissed his appeals for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for chronic sinusitis and service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, shortness of breath (also claimed as breathing problems), primary anemia, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and sinusitis, as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on the applicable criteria.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for tinnitus, denied a higher rating for tinnitus, and granted service connection for GERD.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that October 13, 2021, is the earliest date entitlement arose.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, heart disease, and hypertension. The appeal seeking to readjudicate a claim for service connection for hypertension based on new evidence was dismissed as moot. Bilateral hearing loss will be readjudicated by the AOJ.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were caused by or related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA hearing loss examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for hypertensive heart disease, erectile dysfunction, right and left lower extremity neuropathy, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or a nexus between the claimed disorders and service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and initial ratings due to a missing official military personnel file (OMPF) and service treatment records (STRs).

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss under the presumption of chronic disease due to in-service acoustic trauma.

The appeal for service connection for a bilateral knee condition was dismissed, while the appeal for right ear hearing loss was granted.

The Board granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss effective January 1, 2024, but denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to August 16, 2023, and in excess of 80 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from September 28, 2009 to December 4, 2015.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is a result of his military noise exposure.