Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and a recurrent headache disability to include migraine for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's attempt to appeal a January 2019 rating decision due to untimeliness and lack of good cause for late filing.

The Board granted service connection for a voiding dysfunction, to include urinary frequency, and a 70 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder from March 21, 2019. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability for VA purposes.

The Board granted entitlement to Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) at the rates under 38 U.S.C. � 1114(o) and 38 U.S.C. � 1114(r)(1), based on the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

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

The Board granted service connection for residuals of prostate cancer, hypertension, and tinnitus on a direct incurrence basis. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence that it was related to his active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is attributable to his military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and a higher rating due to missing VA treatment records that are within its constructive possession.

The Board granted restoration of the 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis and restored the 40 percent ratings for left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic radiculopathy and right lower extremity (RLE) sciatic radiculopathy, effective September 16, 2022. The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the back condition beginning June 3, 2023, granted a separate noncompensable rating for urinary leakage secondary to the back condition beginning June 3, 2023, and denied increased ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for post-exertional malaise (PEM) and orthostatic-related symptoms, but denied earlier effective dates for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, a rating in excess of 40 percent for fibromyalgia/PEM, dismissed a disability rating in excess of 100 percent for PTSD, and denied a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for a left knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for basal cell carcinoma of the scalp and face due to lack of evidence supporting a current disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus to obtain supplemental medical opinions regarding their etiology, considering all toxic exposure risk activities during the Veteran's active military service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for severe hearing loss to fulfill its duty to assist by scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss based on audiometric test results that did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss based on the results of a January 2024 VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings to ensure compliance with a prior Board remand.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the inability to schedule VA examinations.