Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records, noise exposure during service, and the need for a new VA opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only, is denied as he does not meet the criteria for 'permanent loss of use of one or both feet' within the context of 38 C.F.R. § 3.808.

The Veteran's tinnitus became manifest within one year of separation from service and is presumed to be related to his military service. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, low-back, and right-hip disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to a disease or injury incurred in service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently assigned a 10 percent evaluation, which is the maximum rating authorized for tinnitus under Diagnostic Code 6260. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and otitis media with perforated tympanic membrane have not been rated appropriately.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus had its onset during active service and is related to noise exposure from his general quarters duties as a sight setter in the Navy. As such, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is currently service connected for multiple disabilities, including major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine, radiculopathy of the right upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus. His current combined rating is 80 percent. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and providing notice of secondary service connection requirements.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period between May 5, 2003 to August 26, 2004. Therefore, his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted and rated at 70 percent since June 3, 2013. The claim for higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeal regarding whether a timely substantive appeal (VA Form-9) was filed with respect to the February 2010 rating decision that denied service connection for peripheral vestibular deficit associated with his service-connected tinnitus has been dismissed.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, effective January 2, 2011. The appellant is also entitled to SMC at the housebound rate prior to May [REDACTED], 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, vision problems, tinnitus, neutropenia, nephropathy, and a dental condition have been denied. The claim for hypertension to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II was previously denied but new and material evidence has since been received.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection, with the reasoning that these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and has granted service connection for this condition.