Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for it. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the restoration of an 80 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied entitlement to revision of the September 2017 and July 2018 rating decisions concerning denial of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance, finding no CUE.

The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, asthma, and foot conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 28, 2025, for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an earlier effective date due to the one-year period prior to the filing of his VA Form 8940.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for breathing issues and bilateral hearing loss was dismissed. His claims for GERD, low back disability (disc protrusion at L5-S1), and sleep apnea were all granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the VA audiological examination inadequate for adjudicative purposes and remanded for an adequate VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss. Service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression is also remanded as there are insufficient competent medical evidence on file.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection, but his left ear hearing loss and both ankle conditions are denied. The Veteran's right ankle scar tissue damage is granted a non-compensable rating, while the painful scars receive a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and lymphedema, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral hearing disability for VA purposes, and the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability at any time during or recent to the filing of his claim.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus, finding that the claim was not within the scope of the original hearing loss claim filed in February 2014 and that the effective date should be based on the May 2, 2023 submission of a supplemental claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee strain, and remanded the right knee strain claim.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a disability that meets VA's criteria for a disability.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 29, 2020. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC housebound.

The Board has determined that the February 2026 rating decision is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of bilateral hearing loss and right thumb laceration residuals.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, as evidenced by his inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, and manage his daily medications. The Board has granted entitlement to SMC(l).

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, lower back condition, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss.,There is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically his insomnia and Alzheimer's disease.