Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the submission of new evidence showing a link between these conditions and military noise exposure. The Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by his service treatment records, which document complaints of hearing issues during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including left upper chest pacemaker scars, painful scar status post cardiac pacemaker reimplantation, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. The decision also notes that VA treatment records from Homer VA Clinic are needed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 8, 2024, and in excess of 40 percent therefrom has been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has vacated the April 4, 2024 decision and granted service connection for tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability within one year post-service.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential procedural errors in the VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to outstanding service treatment records and the need for additional VA medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, while his tinnitus is not. His left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted effective January 12, 2018. The effective date was determined based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 10 percent disability rating from April 15, 2021. The Board found that the evidence was in approximate balance and granted the benefit of the doubt to the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's vertigo is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

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

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence submitted after the May 2022 rating decision supports these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the claim for service connection for a back disability (claimed as back pain) is remanded.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an updated VA opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examination, failure to consider in-service noise exposure, and potential impact on other issues. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the effective date for tinnitus prior to April 26, 2022. The decision found that there was no current disability due to impaired hearing in either ear.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as it resulted from in-service acoustic trauma and the absence of any shift in hearing during service does not preclude service connection.,The Veteran's left foot condition (claimed as plantar warts) is granted as it was shown to have onset during active service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as there is no evidence that it began during active service or resulted from an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss as no new and relevant evidence was received, despite the Veteran submitting a supplemental claim with lay statements and duplicative records.

The Veteran's prostate cancer claim is being remanded for further action.,His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims have been denied, with the latter having a maximum schedular rating already assigned.