Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including whether they are related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unemployable, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran does not have tinnitus that is related to his military service and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted, with diabetes mellitus type II being presumed due to herbicide exposure and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus established as a result of in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, are being reviewed to determine if they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, including the ones related to cervical spine disability. The Board has dismissed the appeal due to this request.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and has been recurrent since then, warranting service connection. The remaining claims for lumbar spine disorder, sciatic nerve disorder, left shoulder disorder, and TBI residuals are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI, migraines, dizziness, and photophobia are not service-connected as they did not occur during active duty or are not related to any incident of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to have manifested in service, while his right ear hearing loss is presumed due to acoustic trauma from a rocket attack during service. Tinnitus is also found to have started in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, and the criteria for a TDIU are therefore not met.

The Board finds that the Veteran likely has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that are attributable to his active military service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has competent evidence of current bilateral hearing loss, but insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between his current hearing loss and service. His right thumb disability, bilateral foot condition, and sleep apnea are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA medical records, specifically audiological evaluations. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending further development.

The Board found no credible evidence of current tinnitus and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service due to exposure to acoustic trauma during basic training, field testing for foam ear plugs, and as a Fire Control Systems Repairer. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a request for a videoconference hearing before the Board. The TDIU claim remains inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims and will be deferred until further development is completed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 6260, and a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for additional ratings. The reduction of the evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 30 percent to 10 percent was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold criteria for a TDIU as his combined disability rating is only 60 percent, which does not exceed the required percentage of 60 percent or more. The Board finds that he does not meet the eligibility requirements for a schedular TDIU.