Hearing loss decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, mental disorder, right thigh disability, tinnitus, and traumatic brain injury due to untimely notice of disagreement. The claims for a heart disability and low back disability were remanded for further development.

The Board granted an effective date of July 30, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension and dismissed claims for earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and back pain, as well as an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in balance as to whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support a finding of current hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board remands the case for a VA examination to address the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted initial ratings for left upper extremity weakness, left lower extremity weakness, rectum impairment, and voiding dysfunction/urine leakage, denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss as the audiometric testing did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 for various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a back condition.

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

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a lumbar spine disability based on the Veteran's credible statements regarding in-service onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of back injury, residuals of excision of ingrown toenail, left ankle sprain, and pseudofolliculitis on face to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied increased ratings for tinnitus, right knee joint osteoarthritis with meniscal tear, right knee limitation of extension, and right knee limitation of flexion.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate medical nexus opinion.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and dismissed the appeal as to service connection for diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, posttraumatic stress disorder, and thyroid issues.

The Board granted a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent for gastrectomy residuals and 10 percent for gastrectomy scars, but denied higher ratings for hypertension, tension headaches, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and service connection for an enlarged prostate, GERD, cervical spine pain, and right wrist pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss based on the results of audiometric testing.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for dysmenorrhea since October 13, 2017, and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left toe stress fracture. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder with depression, anxiety, and insomnia was also denied.