Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not make him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, conduct VA examinations for his hearing loss and tinnitus claims, and determine the nature of his left knee disorder. The claim will be further reviewed after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's testimony regarding his in-service hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his shoulder injuries, is sufficient to establish service connection. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and pes planus are granted.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for residuals of TBI, manifested by headaches is denied. However, a separate evaluation of 10 percent for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and has been granted.,The Veteran's hearing loss disability did not manifest in service, within one year of service, and is unrelated to service. The claim for a hearing loss disability is denied.,There is no evidence of head and facial scarring due to service. The claim for head and facial scarring is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset during service and is not related to his active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been denied. The maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is already assigned, so no higher rating can be granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to his request for a hearing at the RO, and the case is now pending further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of such during service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's service discharge examination did not show any hearing loss or tinnitus, and his testimony regarding noise exposure and continuity of symptoms since service is deemed less credible given the lack of contemporaneous records supporting these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination of his PTSD and efforts to obtain private treatment records. The issue of TDIU will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's service-connected adenocarcinoma of the prostate, status-post prostatectomy with residuals of urinary leakage and urinary stress incontinence, is shown to be of such a nature or severity to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been granted. Service connection has been established for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and left ear tinnitus with the effective date set at January 28, 2010.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, considering his education, special training, and employment history. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Board is remanding the DIC issue for issuance of an SOC, as there was no effective substantive appeal of the DIC denial before the Board.,The character of service issue remains in its current status.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is etiologically related to service, and the Board finds that he currently has bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete information and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they do not result in a combined rating of at least 70%.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.