Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss is fully contemplated by the schedular criteria and denied entitlement to an extraschedular rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability on the basis of aggravation, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and right shoulder condition, finding no current disability. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50% disabling.

The Board has found sufficient evidence to grant service connection for left ear hearing loss with myringitis but not for right ear hearing loss. The claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma was rated at 30 percent prior to October 9, 2009 and upgraded to 100 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's asthma, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were all found to be service-connected. His claim for a higher rating for his amputation of the right ring and little finger with ankylosis of the right middle finger was dismissed as he withdrew it during his October 2015 Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee instability.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn due to his request to withdraw the appeal regarding left ankle, back, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus issues. The Board did not have jurisdiction to review these issues as they were dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals, dislocation of proximal interphalangeal joint, right middle finger with osteoarthrosis is granted. The disability has been rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 5229 and the current evaluation is increased to 10%.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim remains pending and will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's incarceration, and further examinations are needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed left ankle and hearing loss disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hip disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, and shoulder disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to questions regarding the exact nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed hearing loss and tinnitus, including a lack of separation examination records and an outdated VA audiometric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service, specifically his role as a helicopter pilot for almost a decade. As such, the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is determined to be related to her military service and she is granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no current evidence of bilateral hearing loss meeting VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for a supplemental VA examination.