Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's VR&E program was terminated because his service-connected hearing loss did not prevent him from obtaining suitable employment as an adjunct professor, and he has since been employed in this capacity. The Board finds that the VR&E services were appropriate given his current employment status.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted with an effective date of December 31, 2013. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is December 31, 2013 as no earlier claims were filed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent since August 8, 2016. The Board found that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities from May 9, 2009 to August 29, 2014.

The Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and therefore his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The lung disorder claim is also reopened as new and material evidence was received.,Regarding hearing loss, a VA examination was conducted in March 2014 but did not consider the Veteran's exposure to loud noises during his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims are granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disorder, and other conditions. The appeal is based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression secondary to other service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and lumbar spine disability have been granted. The skin disability claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, as it is related to his hearing loss disability. The issue of a compensable evaluation for hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability that meets the VA criteria for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral foot disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.,The Veteran's claim for an eye disorder remains pending due to the need for additional examination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with an adequate VA examination and address his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the May 2013 VA examination report, which did not address in-service noise exposure and its potential contribution to late-onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development, specifically the need to locate a favorable medical opinion regarding his hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss had its onset in service and continues to this day, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability and for updated findings regarding its functional effects.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding his bilateral hearing loss, and because the issue of TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the pending claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is determined to be due to acoustic trauma during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic renal disease associated with diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.