Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus is being remanded to obtain STRs and a medical opinion.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 21, 2013 for the award of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis and for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since at least May 21, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since December 21, 2021. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) for hearing loss under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) is denied because his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC as defined in the regulation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service due to noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue of service connection for this condition is being returned to VA for further development.

Your appeal regarding your bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, tinnitus, and hearing loss disabilities render them unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the November 2023 decision, including issues with the adequacy of a December 2021 VA examination and the credibility of the Veteran's statements regarding his hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a current disability for VA purposes. The Veteran's claim for damaged teeth is remanded as there are insufficient clinical information in the file to make a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the Board finding that his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence meeting the regulatory requirements for establishing a current disability. The claims for service connection for depression and left knee condition are remanded as there is insufficient competent medical evidence on file to make a reasoned determination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to a right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claim for right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that it was at least as likely as not that her tinnitus is a symptom of her bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential issues with the validity of audiometric testing and need for clarification on pre-existing conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the merits of these issues. The benefit of doubt has been given to the Veteran in both cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denied his claim. The right ear hearing loss issue is remanded due to an inadequate opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the other issues related to PTSD and psychiatric disorders, low back disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to incomplete or inadequate evidence.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.