Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's tinnitus was more likely than not due to in-service noise exposure, and the Board finds that service connection is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of shrapnel wounds to the head, hands, and legs, and migraine headaches (claimed as secondary to shrapnel wounds) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's left foot disability, right foot disability, tinnitus, and skin disorders are all found to be related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus and psoriatic arthritis. Service connection was denied for hearing loss in either ear due to noise exposure during service. The issue of service connection for a back disability is being remanded.,Service connection for psoriatic arthritis was established as the condition was related to cold exposure in service.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to insufficient evidence, and further development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to his service, including exposure to loud noise on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and a missed VA examination. The claims for tinnitus and frostbite residuals will be reviewed again with consideration of this additional information.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records are needed and will be obtained. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU per 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). However, his claim of entitlement to a TDIU is submitted to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) due to marked interference with employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his military service, while bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are not shown to be service-connected. The right inguinal hernia was found to have no recurrence and a scar length of 7 cm.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 50%, which does not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU. The VA and SSA determinations indicate that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for residuals of a low back injury and bilateral ear disability including hearing loss but not tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The claims are now reviewed on their merits.

The Veteran's service connection claims for idiopathic anaphylaxis with possible mastocytosis, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus are granted. The claim is based on new evidence that supports the diagnosis of idiopathic anaphylaxis with possible mastocytosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is etiologically related to his military service and his service-connected tinnitus, granting service connection for depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any current disabilities related to his military service, including back injury residuals, hand disorders, knee disorders, frostbite residuals, or hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be earlier than April 30, 2009 as these claims were not received within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left total knee replacements, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining a more definitive medical opinion regarding the etiology of his tinnitus.