Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, ankle disabilities, knee disabilities, foot disabilities, left eye disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea are presumed to have been incurred due to his exposure to noise during military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals for impotence, PTSD, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and is related to his military duties, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset in service and the Board finds that it meets the criteria for service connection. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, are remanded.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's current disability is established, and there is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether his tinnitus had its onset during service or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), alcoholism, and hepatitis C were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as his hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty or are otherwise related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back, left leg, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected residuals of a left heel injury with numbness to the cutaneous nerve. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, ischemic heart disease (IHD), depressive disorder, tinnitus, and residuals of shrapnel fragment wounds to both legs, have rendered him unemployable due solely to these conditions. The criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee disability, tinnitus, and hearing loss, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral eye disability (refractive error) have been granted. The extension of a temporary total rating from April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2010 based on left knee surgery is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as there is no current hearing loss disability and the maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ventricular hypertrophy (hypertensive heart disease) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. Service connection for hyperlipidemia is remanded due to a failure to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to his service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for PTSD, residuals of a head injury, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted.,The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle fracture and left shoulder impingement disabilities have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for the left ankle fracture prior to March 1, 2012, and at 20 percent thereafter. For the left shoulder impingement, he is rated at 10 percent. His tinnitus claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted with an effective date of July 30, 2013. However, his claim for a compensable rating for the service-connected hearing loss was denied.