Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board denied the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as new and relevant evidence was received, but a current disability for VA purposes is not shown.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder, and left ear hearing loss. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board denied the claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, non-allergic rhinitis, and service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss based on the audiometric examination results.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, right elbow flexion limitation, and left anterior scalp scar. It also granted a 20 percent rating for the right elbow flexion and a 10 percent rating for the left anterior scalp scar. The claims for higher ratings were denied.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, but remanded claims for service connection for ankle disorders, lower extremity radiculopathy, and knee pain.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), alcohol use disorder, and cluster headaches. The claims were remanded for further development of the evidence regarding unspecified mood disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, as March 11, 2025, was determined to be the earliest possible effective date.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss, left ankle condition, and right knee strain. The claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left wrist injury, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left knee condition were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to schedule a VA examination due to the Veteran's failure to attend a previously scheduled examination without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea were remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder strain.

The Board granted an initial 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective October 10, 2019, and denied a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for hearing loss, right and left wrist pain, a lung condition, and an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's scar, right hand.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy but granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. The rating for a deviated nasal septum was restored from May 24, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding it to be etiologically related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to hazardous noise.

The Board's decision to deny an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was vacated due to a procedural error.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral cataracts and noncompensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and maxillary and frontal sinusitis, while granting a 30 percent rating for hiatal hernia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spondylotic changes and degenerative disc disease, right hip trochanteric bursitis with enthesopathic changes at the pelvis and femoral trochanters, mild osteoarthritic changes of the right knee, left knee mild osteoarthritic changes, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from February 8, 2014.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a need for additional evidence, specifically the Veteran's complete service treatment records and service personnel records.