Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety, diabetic nephropathy, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, and status post shrapnel injuries, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have originated during service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of TDIU remains pending as the Board does not have jurisdiction over it due to lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC) being issued.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for entitlement to TDIU have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to noise from artillery and equipment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed due to his request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be the result of in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the current rating decision is not final and requires further development before a determination can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy is also granted as secondary to the service-connected lumbar disc disease.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his exposure to noise during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred during service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and tinnitus are service-connected as they both had their onset during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and dismissed the appeal regarding status post radical left mastoidectomy. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a relationship to service or manifestation within one year of separation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 30 percent rating for GERD with hiatal hernia, esophagitis, and esophageal stricture.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have onset during active service, and the Board grants service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder condition and for tinnitus.

The Veteran's headaches, rated at 50 percent disabling from November 30, 2009 to January 1, 2014, have been found to be severe enough to cause significant effects on his occupation as a self-employed auctioneer. The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for headaches during this period.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus are not related to his active service, with the primary diagnosis being a personality disorder for which VA does not provide compensation. The Board also determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is less likely than not related to noise exposure during service.