Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have current right ear hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and his left ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted. Bilateral hearing loss is not connected to service, but tinnitus is considered incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his active duty service, granting the claims for these conditions.

The appeal is being remanded due to the inextricability of the TDIU claim with other service connection claims. The Veteran's TDIU claim will be adjudicated after a decision on his service connection claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service separation. For the initial rating period from March 4, 2009, the service-connected bilateral hearing loss and rhinitis have not met or more nearly approximated for any period a compensable disability rating. The back disability has resulted in mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve for both lower extremities since March 14, 2012.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease with bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted a 100% rating effective February 23, 2015. Prior to this date, the disability had been rated at 30%. The Board found that the evidence showed attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing due to the appellant's request, and will return it after the hearing is conducted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and address the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, including consideration of secondary service connection due to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's liver disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and insomnia are found to be related to his service. The Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral eye or knee disability that is related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of chronicity in service or continuity of symptomatology since service separation. The claims for service connection have therefore been denied.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from December 14, 2011 and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from July 7, 2014 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service connection for tinnitus and denied the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, but denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's skin disability is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for tinnitus. However, service connection for both tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss cannot be established as there is no medical nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is due to his service-connected hearing loss and grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.