Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are causally related to noise exposure during active service.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have onset during service, warranting service connection. For the period beginning May 29, 2009, his varicose veins of the bilateral lower extremities meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is pending as the evidence is insufficient to determine their etiology.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, with the Board finding that his current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within one year post-service. The VA examiners have concluded that any current hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely due to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, stomach disorder, respiratory disorder, fatigue, colon cancer, and hemorrhoids, have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Veteran's death was related to military service, and he may have been eligible for government life insurance. However, the VA has determined that there is a positive association between exposure to herbicides and the subsequent development of respiratory cancers of the lung, which led to his death from a presumptive disability associated with Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to develop the radiation exposure claim and determine if his conditions are related to non-ionizing (microwave) radiation exposure during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including his back disability, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2, and thus does not warrant service connection.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted as it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss. The Veteran's GERD with diverticulitis and left radiculopathy are not rated higher than the current 10% evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for Meniere's disease with tinnitus, finding that he did not meet the legal criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, render her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for tinnitus and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for this condition, with the reasoning being that his in-service noise exposure likely caused his current tinnitus.

The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, including exposure to noise. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.