Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, with exostoses and otosclerosis being the underlying conditions for both issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred in service, and the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded. The issue of service connection for loss of auricle has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, as there is evidence of in-service noise exposure and current disabilities. The decision also allows the reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with consideration given to the possibility of delayed-onset conditions. The decision grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA audiological examination and opinion provided in August 2012 are not adequate to decide the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing medical records and a need for a new VA audiometric examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding employability and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not demonstrate a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA vocational rehabilitation records and a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's employability prior to March 31, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular percentage requirements for TDIU, and the Board finds that he is unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his tinnitus does not more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the TDIU issue due to a lack of SSA records and for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) given the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability are all found to be related to service. The Board grants these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating of 70 percent. Service connection for the other conditions was granted.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, respiratory disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be related to service. The Board grants the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma, and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at the highest possible rating under the applicable criteria, but his lumbar spine disorder does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,His migraine headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling and do not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.