Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss based on the Veteran's credible lay statements and probative medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, right hand pain, and lumbar spine condition; denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder condition, and obstructive sleep apnea; and remanded claims related to tinnitus, PTSD, TDIU, and other conditions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, requiring an additional examination with medical opinion based on full consideration of the Veteran's documented medical history and assertions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, obstructive sleep apnea (sleep apnea), and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence demonstrated no worse than Level I impairment in each ear.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for shortness of breath and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions.

The untimely appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a lumbosacral strain (back strain condition) were dismissed.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar strain but denied higher ratings and service connection for other conditions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error, as no VA examination was conducted despite new and relevant evidence being submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss based on the results of an audiological examination.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a need for an adequate VA examination addressing in-service noise exposure and decreased hearing acuity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a compensable hearing loss in the right ear during active service or within one year of separation from active service, and no medical nexus between the current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were dismissed as the Board Appeal requests were not timely filed.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver with hepatitis C were dismissed due to untimely filing.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and right knee disability due to deficiencies in the VA examination and character of discharge determination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and a compensable rating, except for the issue of a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, but the Board granted entitlement to VA nonservice-connected burial benefits because he had pending claims for hearing loss and tinnitus at the time of his death.