Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his request for a Video Conference Hearing before the Board. The hearing has not been scheduled yet.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in April 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying claimed medical treatment. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, foot disability, eye disability, and back disability will be reconsidered after all requested development is completed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period of March 31, 2011 through December 10, 2014.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD, which prevents him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and is granted.,Bilateral hearing loss was also found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be due to his service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that it is not factually ascertainable prior to January 4, 2008, that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone rendered him unable to work and thus an effective date earlier than January 4, 2008 for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability on an extraschedular basis cannot be assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, but the Board has not found sufficient evidence for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show objective symptoms warranting a rating in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, nor did it show other deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relationships, judgment, thinking or mood.

The Veteran's tinnitus is reasonably shown to have been incurred in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The left thumb disability remains rated at 0 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure. The eye disability is not currently service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at 70 percent, and his post gastrectomy disability is rated at 60 percent. The Board granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is already rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and no higher rating can be assigned under any other diagnostic code.,For external hemorrhoids, the Veteran has small or moderate internal hemorrhoids with frequent recurrence but without large, thrombotic, irreducible hemorrhoids. The current rating of 10 percent is appropriate as there are no findings of persistent bleeding, secondary anemia, or fissures.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the claims for service connection for tinnitus/ear ringing, mid and low back pain, left shoulder pain, right hip pain, and a heart condition prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in service, were not otherwise shown to be etiologically related to a disease or injury in service, and are not presumed as chronic conditions under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a). The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to his history of in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure during his time as a wheel vehicle mechanic is causally related to his current condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be addressed on remand.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on all issues related to the severance of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of malaria.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the issues on appeal, including obtaining service treatment records and updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and bilateral ankle and foot conditions are being remanded.