Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there were no pending claims seeking entitlement to service connection for tinnitus prior to April 18, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not manifest during service or within one year of separation from active duty. The VA examinations indicated no significant threshold shifts in either ear.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since the date of service connection, and he meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU from May 22, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to his in-service exposure to noise, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, but his claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran withdrew from appeal the issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining an opinion from a VA audiologist regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his in-service noise exposure.

The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date earlier than September 10, 2010, for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are currently before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his military service, specifically for back problems. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus did not manifest in service or within the first post-service year, nor is it related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experiences.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and issuing a statement of the case on several issues.

The Board denied the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus or radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The preexisting conditions did not increase in severity during service, and any current hearing loss is more likely due to natural progression post-service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active service, and the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it was caused by noise exposure during active duty. The right thumb and throat disorders are not service-connected due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right sciatic nerve, bilateral hearing loss, and a scar of the right posterior thigh associated with a gunshot wound are denied. The claim for service connection for a right ankle sprain is also denied.