Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for tinnitus, left ear because it has been rendered moot on appeal due to a December 2010 rating decision granting this claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus. The evidence did not show that treatment of his diabetes required regulation of activities, there was no indication that his hearing loss or tinnitus began during service, and he provided inconsistent statements regarding when these conditions started.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable from January 23, 2007 to September 30, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective December 1, 2006. The Veteran has also been granted service connection for tinnitus with a 10% disability rating effective December 1, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and PTSD. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied service connection for this condition. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of left ankle injury, and residuals of left fifth finger injury were also denied as there was no competent medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma as an air traffic control radar repairman. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to a request for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for tinnitus, and entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss are pending.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding his employability and considering all of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, vertigo, and denied a higher initial evaluation for residuals of a right hand laceration.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 6260, and a separate compensable evaluation for each ear is not warranted. The laceration of the head has been assigned a noncompensable rating, as it does not meet the criteria for any higher rating based on its current symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for tinnitus were denied as the disability ratings under VA's rating schedule adequately encompassed his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on employability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is productive of a depressed mood, anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, hyperarousal, difficulty sleeping, reduced reliability and productivity, resulting in moderate social impairment. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial rating of 50 percent have been met.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spondylosis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for migraine headaches, finding that his current condition is related to active service. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and status post inguinal hernia repair are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran was exposed to excessive noise in service and that his current conditions are related to this exposure.