Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current tinnitus and noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing as requested by the Veteran's representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disability and back condition. The decision also addressed his claim for tinnitus, lung condition, and sleep apnea, but did not specify whether these were granted or denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a nexus to service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not considered service-connected.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a right knee disorder. The claims will now be considered on their merits.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service acoustic trauma is likely to have caused his current bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran is granted TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, with a combined disability rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 9, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected coronary artery disease and/or tinnitus for the period from January 24, 2008, to March 9, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right rotator cuff tear, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2 with erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 4, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of TDIU is granted, as the evidence shows he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities since March 27, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and dementia, to include a neurocognitive disorder with depression, anxiety and pain syndrome, as secondary to Parkinson's Disease. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (migraines, bilateral pes planus, and tinnitus) did not meet the schedular percentage criteria for TDIU prior to September 14, 2001. The combined rating of 60% was from different conditions with no common etiology or accident.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple issues, including cancer of the left pharyngeal tonsil, ischemic heart disease, bilateral swelling of the feet, headaches, PTSD, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disability to include acid reflux, sleeping disorders to include sleep apnea, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, skin disorder (chloracne), bleeding from the nose and mouth, tinnitus, an upper back and/or neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision does not specify a rating assigned or effective date.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, securing his VA vocational rehabilitation file, and providing an advisory opinion from a VA Vocational Rehabilitation Division counselor regarding the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with symptoms beginning during or shortly after service. As such, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be remanded to allow for further development of the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are rated at 10 percent combined, which is less than the minimum threshold of 60% required. The Board finds that his disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.