Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is not entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, but the weight of medical evidence is in relative equipoise for both conditions. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, including noise exposure. The Board found the evidence against a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to their impact on his ability to communicate in various environments.

The Board has determined that the purchase of a home therapy spa is necessary to help promote the Veteran's independence in daily life due to his severe disabilities, including diabetes and neuropathy.

The Veteran does not currently have a diagnosed hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and her peripheral vestibulopathy with dizziness and loss of balance and otitis media are not service-connected.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD with dysthymia and tinnitus, both related to his military service.,A VA compensation examination is needed to reassess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are denied as there is no evidence showing a claim was filed prior to April 24, 2007.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue with metastasis and resulting radical neck resection are all found to be related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's credible account of inservice acoustic trauma and continued presence of tinnitus since discharge from service is sufficient to establish service connection. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of available service treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be causally related to his active duty service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased rating for diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, right ankle condition, ruptured eardrum, and tinnitus have been withdrawn. The claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran meets the percentage requirements for TDIU due to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus, which are rated at 50% and 10%, respectively. His combined rating is 60%. The Board finds that these disabilities render him unemployable.

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

The Board has determined that there is insufficient medical evidence to determine whether the Veteran needs regular aid and attendance or is permanently housebound due to service-connected disabilities, non-service connected disabilities, or if it is possible to separate out the effects of the nonservice-connected and service-connected disabilities in this regard. The case is therefore REMANDED for further development.