Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral elbow disability, diagnosed as lateral epicondylitis, is not etiologically related to service. The examiner noted no complaints of elbow problems during active duty and attributed the current condition to overuse in a civilian job.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's hearing loss and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his left shoulder disability with prosthetic implant, have caused loss of use of his left hand. The Board finds that the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment are met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to address his claims of service connection and rating for various disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, including type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to September 28, 2011 for tinnitus service connection and whether there was CUE in the denial of hypertension. The Veteran's claim for reopening a claim of service connection for hypertension is granted. However, his claims for increased ratings for sciatic nerve impairment, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS, and left knee osteoarthritis are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, which he contends are the result of acoustic trauma during service. The VA examiner concluded that the claimed hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service due to a lack of typical 'noise notch' pattern in audiograms from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of all appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current hearing disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left lower extremity mononeuropathy, left upper extremity superficial radial sensory neuropathy, tinnitus, hearing loss, a facial scar, and eczema, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his work and educational background since March 29, 2005. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU effective from that date.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the condition was manifested within one year of separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and tinnitus are service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss, tinnitus, a chronic sinus disorder, or COPD during service. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a result of noise exposure during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The remaining claims of service connection for respiratory and psychiatric conditions have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since June 8, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from October 1, 2006 through June 14, 2016 and at 70 percent from June 15, 2016. The TDIU rating is granted.