Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as his combined rating is 80 percent. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of unemployability solely due to these conditions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted based on in-service acoustic trauma exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his PTSD symptoms, as they are considered part of the 50% rating for that disability. The Board finds that he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain another VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine disability, granted a 10 percent rating for the low back disability from May 4, 2006 to February 23, 2011, and a 20 percent rating since then, and denied service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is granted, with the Board finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether these disabilities are related to service. The case is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disability, diagnosed as anxiety, is reasonably shown to be related to service and to his service-connected pleurisy. Service connection for psychiatric disability has been granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus for VA purposes and thus cannot establish service connection. The Veteran's complaints of tinnitus are not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not the result of noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, and right foot injury are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied due to a lack of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made on the claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Specifically, new examinations are required to address whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. The VA audiologist should provide an opinion regarding the significance of threshold shifts between entrance and separation in the Veteran's case.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and granted service connection. The hearing loss issue remains pending as further examination and clarification are needed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, scar on the left calf, erectile dysfunction, right shoulder disability, gastrointestinal disorder, TMJ, and tinnitus have all been granted.,However, further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has chronic toenail fungus and/or chronic plantar fasciitis related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need to inform him of the information and evidence not of record that is necessary to substantiate a claim under a theory of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he meets the schedular requirement for TDIU.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.