Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's competent and credible lay statements, along with a private doctor's statement, support his allegation of in-service onset and continuity of symptoms since service. Therefore, service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to ensure full and fair consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The case is REMANDED for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of an ear injury related to active duty service, and the Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to locate service treatment records and obtain medical opinions regarding the appellant's right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be service-connected. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss results in no worse than Level VIII hearing acuity from January 15, 2009 to May 22, 2015. The initial compensable rating for the condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right ear hearing loss was aggravated by his active duty service, and left ear hearing loss is related to his active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss was granted, with a 10 percent rating effective from March 23, 2015. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for degenerative disc/joint disease of the lumbar spine and service connection for a cervical spine disability are pending.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by his service. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability by VA standards.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if he currently has a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and whether it was caused by noise exposure during active duty service.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the Veteran's death certificate and medical records, including from his primary care physician. The expert opinion requested will address whether the Veteran's cold injury residuals could have caused or contributed to his cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference Board hearing regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability (secondary to a left leg fracture and flat feet), and residuals of fracture of the left leg.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for actinic keratosis was denied as there is no evidence of a link between the condition and his active service, including herbicide exposure. The claims for hearing loss and PTSD are pending.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss during active duty for training and concluded that the current hearing loss is not related to service, including noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a VA examination and review of the claims file.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated based on the schedular criteria and does not meet the requirements for an extraschedular rating. The claim of entitlement to TDIU prior to April 19, 2011, has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED to the AOJ for a determination on whether an extraschedular TDIU rating under 38 C.F.R. � 4.16(b) should be granted due to his service-connected disabilities.