Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have first manifested during active duty service and has persisted since that time, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, as there is no documented in-service symptoms or findings. The examiner concluded it was less likely than not that these conditions were due to military noise exposure.

The effective dates for the grants of service connection for tinea versicolor, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are April 15, 1997.,The effective date for TDIU is determined to be April 15, 1997 through September 29, 1997 and from May 1, 1998 forward. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was not properly filed as a free-standing claim.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for major depressive disorder and recurrent lumbar radiculopathy status post hemilaminectomy and discectomy are April 15, 1997.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chronic asbestosis or bronchitis related to service, and his chloracne is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure. The tinnitus was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) are rated at 60 percent combined, but they do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating because his education and experience allow him to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current tinnitus disorder is not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted as service-connected, with the onset during service. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling.,Service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine remains pending due to lack of final adjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and his tinnitus is not etiologically related to service. The claims for shortness of breath and depression were also denied as there was no evidence of in-service asbestos exposure or psychiatric injury.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, as the September 2009 VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's statements regarding in-service noise exposure and the continuity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use of extremities or blindness.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not begin during service and is not otherwise caused by his military service, including any noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing disability did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no evidence of a hearing loss disability in service and the VA audiologist concluded that his hearing loss is not caused by or a result of military noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current tinnitus and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss (rated as 80 percent disabling) and tinnitus (rated as 10 percent disabling), meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and the collective lay and medical evidence on the question of the nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral high frequency hearing loss and chronic low back pain with degenerative joint disease, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he meets the percentage requirements for TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of an inner ear disability, hearing loss, or tinnitus being incurred in service and denied the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his service. The evidence is at least as likely as not that these conditions were incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for lumbar strain was denied as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a 10% rating under VA's General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,Effective dates prior to November 19, 2005, were denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they were both granted effective on that date.