Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot disability and an increased rating for his left knee disability, as well as his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision also granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD. The RO granted the claim with a February 3, 2006 effective date based on his unemployability at that time. However, the Board is remanding the case to consider whether the TDIU should have been granted prior to February 3, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are more likely related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have not met the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating. However, the Board has remanded the case to obtain an opinion on whether these conditions preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied. The calculation of his combined disability rating in the November 2009 rating decision was found to be correct.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion from a VA TDIU examiner. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are considered in determining whether they make him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred during service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or symptoms. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a hearing disability in service or within the presumptive period. The VA examiner found no causal relationship between the Veteran's military noise exposure and his current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and a medical opinion regarding tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability determination records. A VA examination will be conducted to determine the etiology of any hearing loss, tinnitus, and head injury residuals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Regional Office.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for tinnitus and granted service connection on a secondary basis to his already service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure. The VA examiners concluded that his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely related to his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection for these conditions. The pterygium of the right eye is not associated with service connection as it was not determined if the condition began during military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability in either ear is not shown, and the claim for this condition is denied.,Tinnitus was incurred in service.