Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus due to in-service acoustic trauma and presumed exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection for ischemic heart disease is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support these claims based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, and thus grants service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's skin disability, tinnitus, and PTSD are all service-connected. The skin condition is reopened based on new evidence received since the last denial. Tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure. PTSD is rated at its maximum of 70%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as there is no evidence of a prior pending claim. The effective date for grant of service connection will be February 6, 2009.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely attributable to noise exposure during military service, and the Board grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine arthritis and tinnitus. The issues of increased evaluations are also pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current tinnitus and head injury with service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely as not related to his active service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and postoperative residuals of a right parotid gland tumor are remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, with no specific rating assigned.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is currently at 80 percent, which meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities combine to render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for her claim of tinnitus. The Board grants service connection for cardiac arrhythmia as secondary to Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but remands the issue of a higher rating for Hashimoto's thyroiditis due to further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination, as well as obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 29, 2006 for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were pending within one year of his separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the claims of service connection for a sinus condition and respiratory condition are remanded due to inadequate evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective May 24, 2010. The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the thoracic spine disability and found that the criteria for TDIU have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, prevent him from securing and maintaining any substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted it. The Veteran's tinnitus is also found to be related to his military service, and he was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression) as secondary to his service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis.,Service connection for these conditions has been established.