Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim. The issue of service connection for depression and PTSD is addressed separately.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lung disability and hearing loss, were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or associations with service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely due to noise exposure during his active duty, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure, which is conceded due to his combat service in Vietnam. The Veteran's PTSD is also found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss are all related to service. The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss have been denied as his hearing did not meet VA criteria for a disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ear disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and thus denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the maximum schedular rating authorized for each condition is 10 percent.

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

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a reopening of the claim and establishing service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left ear disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claim is granted as there is now sufficient evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board finds that there is no competent or credible evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and right shoulder disability. The earliest clinical evidence of these conditions does not date back to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is a symptom of the Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss. The left ear hearing loss and lichen planus chronicus claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed by the RO.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus (flat feet) was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition during the pendency of his appeal. The Board found that the recent VA radiology report did not support a current diagnosis of flat feet.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of such severity to preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were of sufficient severity to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment from September 4, 2012, to May 27, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to a lack of clarity in the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is now pending for further adjudication.

The Board is remanding the case to provide another opportunity for a VA examination and to ensure that all necessary development has been completed.