Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and a request for additional private treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable (zero percent) due to hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in each ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and TBI are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's request for a compensable rating for his surgical scar of the lumbar spine is denied. The decision also denies service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remands the claims for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show that his hearing acuity has worsened to warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability in either ear.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of non-VA emergency care provided by Forsyth Medical Hospital from May 22, 2024, to May 25, 2024, is granted. The remaining $590.00 balance is considered reimbursable due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and other health insurance coverage.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on this.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss was denied, as his current level of hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran also had right ear hearing loss, but it did not meet the VA disability compensation standards for hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is less likely related to his military noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of November 13, 2020, for his grant of TDIU. The Board found that the proper effective date was August 20, 2021, based on the date of receipt of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for additional medical opinions regarding dry eye syndrome. The Veteran's exposure to burn pits during his military service is noted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected due to in-service noise exposure, and this decision grants his claim for service connection.