Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus, finding that giving him the benefit of doubt, his symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim for a shrapnel injury to the left ear is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new audiology examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it had its onset during active service. The respiratory disorder claim is denied as the claimed shortness of breath does not represent a manifestation of undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, right wrist and hand disabilities, tinnitus, and erythema multiforme, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of July 16, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not a result of service or etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma. The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are also found to be service-connected.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease is related to his service, and grants service connection for this condition. The other conditions are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be the result of acoustic trauma sustained during his active service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran is awarded SMC-O based on the need for two separate SMC-L awards due to loss of use of both feet and need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection has not been established for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his failure to complete the VA Form 21-8940 made it impossible for the Board to determine if he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected recurrent tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent evaluation, the maximum schedular rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. There is no legal basis for the assignment of a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to in-service acoustic trauma, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent effective August 4, 2016. The Board grants this rating and also finds that the Veteran meets criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The Board also granted service connection for both conditions based on in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology.