Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and secure substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective June 16, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are as likely as not attributable to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal has been resolved in part. His higher rating and earlier effective date claims for lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted, as well as his TDIU claim based on service-connected disabilities. However, his initial rating claim for tinnitus is dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case on his increased disability rating and earlier effective date claims. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional records and further consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss was more likely due to age-related changes rather than military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a right eye disability, but the ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss remain unchanged. The case is remanded to issue a Statement of the Case for these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been evaluated based on the applicable VA rating criteria. The Veteran is currently receiving a 20 percent disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss, which is the maximum schedular rating allowed under the applicable VA rating criteria. For tinnitus, he has received the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent. No higher ratings are warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is able to work despite his lumbar spine disability and other conditions. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of total occupational impairment due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left foot disorder other than skin disorder, and tinnitus. The evidence received since the final March 2004 RO decision supports these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, liver condition (degenerative joint disease), and erectile dysfunction are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus disability had its onset during service and is therefore granted. The Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or treatment for these conditions. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, thus granting his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. Additional treatment records are also needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Board videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions are pending.