Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded to obtain missing VA treatment records, provide appropriate VA examinations, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right ear hearing loss did not worsen during service and was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 100% from April 1, 2011 to February 28, 2013. The RO reduced the rating to 20% effective March 1, 2013 based on improvement in his hearing acuity under ordinary conditions of life and work. Since April 30, 2015, he is rated at 80%.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent prior to July 18, 2011. The appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including another VA hearing examination and a VA foot examination. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially rated as noncompensable prior to June 9, 2011. Effective that date, the RO granted a 10 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and initial disability rating for tinnitus in excess of 10 percent have been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection for a chronic pulmonary condition, to include as due to conceded in-service asbestos exposure, is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records, particularly regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as a determination on whether he has suffered loss of use of his feet due to service-connected metatarsalgia with callosities and pes planus status post-operative.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be related to service exposure, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus, mastoidectomy residuals, and bilateral hearing loss are all rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination. The appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Veteran is already receiving the maximum schedular rating for his tinnitus, and the RO has assigned a non-compensable rating for his hearing loss prior to June 16, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for her service-connected otitis media of the right ear with a perforated tympanic eardrum and hearing loss is on appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is moot.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent under Diagnostic Code 6100.