Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.,PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum available under current criteria. The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ear disability other than tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss disability. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the lack of meeting the percentage rating standards and because the Veteran could still engage in substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as a result of in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's assertions regarding the onset and progression of these conditions are considered credible.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board finds that there is no current disability for VA purposes due to bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that evidence against his claim outweighs his statements and that his tinnitus did not manifest during or within one year after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not attributable to service, including exposure to noise during his military service. Therefore, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for a low back strain due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no legal basis to award higher schedular evaluations. The Veteran's appeal must be denied.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including pleural calcifications (60%), bilateral hearing loss (10%), and tinnitus (10%), do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, while diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred or aggravated in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, rosacea, and malignant melanoma are all found to be related to service. The skin disability is presumed due to herbicide exposure in the Gulf War era.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and anosmia (claimed as loss of sense of smell).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and to provide a medical opinion on the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of recent treatment records and an outdated examination. The Veteran is also required to complete an appeal with respect to his tinnitus rating.