Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's combined evaluation of 80 percent for his service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to locate the Veteran's service treatment records and obtain any relevant VA outpatient records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's right testicle scar warrants a noncompensable rating. The claim for hearing loss is pending in the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss disability did not warrant a compensable evaluation, and denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, celiac sprue, irritable bowel syndrome with polyps, allergic rhinitis, and osteoporosis, did not have onset during a period of active service or were not caused by an injury or disease incurred in service. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as they do not meet the criteria for a disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected due to in-service acoustic trauma, with continuous symptomatology since discharge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and previous work experience, thus the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that these conditions are not related to the Veteran's military service. The decision did not address left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, thus service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are likely due to exposure to noise during his military service. The claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and PTSD, as well as a total rating based on individual unemployability by reason of service-connected disability, remain pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee strains and denied her claims for shin splints, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and degenerative disc disease are all related to his military service. The claims were granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether any current diagnoses are related to service. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that his claimed conditions were not related to his service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran was also denied a TDIU claim.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss or tinnitus disability that is related to his military service. The VA examiner found no link between any current hearing loss or tinnitus and military service based on the record.