Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Veteran is granted an effective date of May 10, 2010 for the award of a TDIU due to service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The appellant withdrew from appeal the claims of service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to muscle group XVII and a right leg disability prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his military service, including significant noise exposure during his time in Vietnam. As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) are found to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in military service and grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with tinnitus that is attributable to his active military service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition. Regarding bilateral hearing loss, a new VA examination is needed as the previous opinion was inadequate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her failure to appear for a scheduled travel Board hearing. She has been requested to be rescheduled for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's tinnitus and low back disability are found to be related to his active service, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal. The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, precludes him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and assessments related to his service-connected disabilities, as well as a Social and Industrial Survey to determine his employability.

The Board has determined that it is as likely as not that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and erectile dysfunction, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD, compression fracture at L2 of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease, left otitis media with ruptured tympanic membrane, left saphenous nerve entrapment, or bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, and obesity, as well as the earlier effective date for depression. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, gastrointestinal disorder to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, and hypertension. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability in these conditions, or any link between them and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining the Veteran's service treatment records from his active duty period. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claim for an annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2013 is being remanded due to the need for additional clinical determination regarding the use of his service-connected fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue syndrome braces and their impact on his clothes.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 90%, which satisfies the criteria for a TDIU. The evidence shows that the Veteran's PTSD renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and an increased rating for PTSD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.