Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is not unemployable due solely to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for the Veteran's anxiety disorder and found that he is not entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records, provide proper notice regarding TDIU, and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and tinnitus have been found to be at least as likely as not incurred during service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn. The Board granted a TDIU from February 12, 2014, based on his service-connected disabilities. The case is remanded to schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing regarding his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. Tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while the bilateral hearing loss claim is based on new evidence of current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for reactive airway disease, allergies, ehrlichiosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation. The Board found that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, hyperlipidemia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connected disabilities, primarily his PTSD and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the August 1998 rating decision denying service connection for tinnitus contains clear and unmistakable error. As a result, the effective date of service connection for tinnitus is set to February 7, 1998.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim remains pending as VA audiological examination is needed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of progression during service and post-service civilian occupations provided sufficient noise exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened and granted. The claims for PTSD, hypertension, and TDIU were also granted with appropriate ratings.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The maximum schedular evaluation is assigned for the Veteran's tinnitus, and a referral for extraschedular consideration was not warranted.,The Veteran's claim seeking an earlier effective date for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was also denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and is related to in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection for tinnitus. The hearing loss claim was not addressed due to a lack of evidence showing clinical onset or etiology.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD was granted. However, his claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied as there is no causal relationship between these conditions and his in-service acoustic trauma.