Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are caused by or the result of in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board videoconference hearing. The issues include seeking higher disability rating for PTSD, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, including any in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) effective since November 18, 2011. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.,A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities are related to his active duty service, establishing service connection.,Service connection for tinnitus is also granted as it is found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with aggravation during service for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to noise from artillery equipment. As a result, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA hospitalization records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, but his claims for a bilateral foot disorder and heart disorder remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for another VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to clarify whether he wants a Board hearing conducted by video conference or in person at the RO in Detroit, Michigan. The claims will be returned to the Board after the requested hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since December 28, 2007. Effective July 26, 2010, his TDIU rating was increased to a combined evaluation of 70 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of SMC at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection based on exposure to loud noise during service. The initial ratings for shin splints and adjustment disorder with depressed mood are also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus have made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 28, 2002. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU prior to January 2, 2015 are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to the character of his discharge. The Board of Correction of Naval Records upgraded his discharge from general court martial to under honorable conditions in February 2008, which allowed him to receive VA benefits. However, an earlier effective date was not granted as it would have been based on when he filed for correction of his military records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of reopening his service connection for left ear tinnitus and granting service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Veteran's tinnitus was not chronic in service or within one year post-service separation.