Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

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

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for blepharitis was withdrawn at his Board hearing. The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids are currently rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's service connection claims for anthrax shots and bilateral hearing loss were also withdrawn at his Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his service, specifically exposure to loud noises on an aircraft carrier flight deck. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service. The decision also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between current PTSD symptoms and active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional Reserve service records and providing a VA opinion regarding the etiology of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical records, arrange for examinations, and provide an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA vocational rehabilitation folder and arranging new VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employment.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be related to service, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as the VA examination was ordered.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability, right ear hearing loss disability, bilateral tinnitus, and hypertension. The appeals are resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, liver disorder, and various knee disabilities have been granted. The Veteran is also entitled to an initial compensable rating for his septoplasty.

The Veteran withdrew the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus from appellate consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease during active service or otherwise related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) are related to his service-connected tinnitus. As a result, these claims have been granted.

The Veteran was still gainfully employed prior to June 1, 2009 and thus is not entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for that period.

The Veteran's appeals of the claims for service connection for hearing loss, left ankle disability, and tinnitus are being remanded to allow scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during or after service, and attributing any current conditions to post-service noise exposure.