Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current hearing disability and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship between the condition and active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression and anxiety, hearing loss, tendonitis, PTSD, and headaches has been granted. The appeals for service connection for hearing loss and tendonitis are denied. The appeals for service connection for PTSD and headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The VA needs to provide an examination focusing solely on how his service-connected disabilities impact his ability to perform daily activities.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for Meniere's disease and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran contends his conditions began during active duty or were caused by prescribed medications, but there is insufficient evidence to support these assertions.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU with a September 19, 2024 effective date based on his PTSD, emphysema, and COPD symptoms. His diabetes, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss were not found to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 19, 2024.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the reduction of his hepatitis B rating from 20% to 0% was upheld. Service connection was not established for diabetes, left knee arthritis, hypertension, or obstructive sleep apnea. Bilateral hearing loss was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disorder is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a right orbital fracture due to inadequate examination results and failure to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and accrued benefits due to procedural issues, as the appeals were not within the modernized review system.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether his current condition was incurred in or caused by his active service.

The appeal of the proposed reduction in PTSD rating from 70% to 50%, and for service connection claims related to various joints and diabetes mellitus type II, has been dismissed due to procedural issues. The Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in service and is less likely than not caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to her active military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diverticulitis, type II diabetes mellitus, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The remaining claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypertension, diverticulitis, type II diabetes mellitus, sleep disorder, bilateral pes planus, left ankle/foot tibialis tendinitis, and left foot arthritis of midtarsal joint are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, as is his right ear hearing loss. However, the evidence does not support a finding of current left ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's chronic rhinitis is granted as service connected due to exposure to burn pits during his Southwest Asia service. Right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied, with no current diagnosis found. Headache disorder remains in dispute.

The Veteran's tension headaches, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and traumatic brain injury are rated at 50 percent each. The Board has granted a TDIU from October 30, 2014 to July 10, 2024 due to the severity of these service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing impairment is related to noise exposure during military service.