Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 5, 2010 for a 10 percent disability rating for tinnitus is denied as it is not legally possible due to the passage of more than one year since the liberalizing laws that would have allowed such a rating.

The Veteran's request for hearings has been addressed, and the case is being remanded due to scheduling conflicts. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus remains under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination by a vocational specialist to assess his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation for consideration of an extra-schedular TDIU if he does not meet the scheduler criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right ear trauma and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, and his left ankle and knee conditions are each rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims, including obtaining STRs and private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and insomnia are service-connected, with no specific exposure basis provided.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in service, were not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, and are not related to service. As such, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied.

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

The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, including his in-service noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily PTSD, may render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. However, the current evidence is insufficient to make a reasoned determination on this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, but tinnitus was observed and linked to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (depression, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development of his employment history and medical records, as well as for a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of any bilateral leg disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current bilateral hearing loss is not otherwise etiologically related to such service. The claim for left ear hearing loss was also denied as there was no evidence showing it manifested in active service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his active service, and therefore does not warrant service connection.