Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar disc disease and bilateral radiculopathy, left ankle disability, tinnitus, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and is related to noise exposure, thus granting service connection for tinnitus. The claim for sleep apnea will be remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a Travel Board hearing scheduled at the RO. The case will be returned to the Board once he has provided notice of his new address and scheduling an additional hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military noise exposure. The claim for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities was withdrawn by the Veteran during the July 2015 hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, rendered him unable to follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 6, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for the period from June 2010 to May 2013.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during or as a result of active military service, and thus denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, scar of the left inner arm, and PTSD) alone were found to be of such severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any gainful employment between July 9, 2009, and his death in December 2012.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a disability manifested by uncontrollable body shakes is denied as there is no evidence of any neurological disorder or other ascertainable chronic disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes in either ear, and the evidence is against finding that his tinnitus began during service or is related to service. The Board finds no basis for granting service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering whether to refer the case for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a rescheduling of his requested hearing before the Board. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, PTSD, and right wrist were withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition. The remaining claims are pending further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 70 percent since August 19, 2014. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms and occupational/social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Video Conference hearing due to his failure to report for the scheduled hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are still pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, and he is entitled to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to his spine fusion.