Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and does not have a current left leg burn disability etiologically related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and arranging an audio examination of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, and left knee disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability in either ear during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated as 40 percent, the bilateral pes planus as 30 percent prior to March 16, 2012, and PTSD as 70 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and examinations related to her psychiatric disability, left shoulder and right knee disabilities, left ear hearing loss, and foot disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is attributable to his service, specifically noise exposure during his time on the USS Lowry. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA examination and updated medical records, as well as a potential increase in disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and lung disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing. The claims include service connection for various conditions and an initial rating for anxiety.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated at 10 percent prior to July 12, 2010 and at 30 percent thereafter. The claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability originated during his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was received with respect to the August 2011 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 40 percent since the grant of service connection. The VA examinations have shown auditory acuity levels VII in the left ear and VIII in the right ear, which do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active service. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran during the July 2014 hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at a noncompensable level under the schedular criteria. However, due to its exceptional impact on his occupation as a barber in noisy environments, an extraschedular rating of 30 percent has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination for PTSD and an addendum report from the VA audiologist who provided the July 2015 report. The claims file must also be updated to include any outstanding VA treatment records.