Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and denied or remanded the other issues on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot crush injury, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities, also secondary to the newly service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for left and right ankle strains, denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded claims for hypertension and gout.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of hearing loss for VA purposes.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board dismissed the issue challenging a July 2025 higher-level review decision proposal to sever service connection for nasal septum deviation and found that new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The matter regarding an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis is remanded.

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

The Board granted an earlier effective date for service connection of migraine headaches and a 50 percent rating from April 10, 2024, while denying an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for the same condition.

The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from February 23, 2010 to March 30, 2018, and the claim for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) was also granted.

The Board remands the case for an adequate medical advisory opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate previous opinions.

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

The Board denied readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, aphthous ulcers, a right elbow condition, an enlarged prostate, a right ankle disorder, and a left ankle disorder as no new and relevant evidence was received.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and foot disabilities. The claim for NSC pension benefits was dismissed as moot due to a higher disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and remanded the claims for tinnitus, facial scars, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, GERD, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for further development.

The Board remands all service connection claims for further development and to cure pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The appeals for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals at a December 2024 Board hearing. The remaining claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an inadequate VA examination.