Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% likelihood (equipoise) that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The earliest date it is factually ascertainable that the Veteran was totally disabled by reason of individual unemployability due to service connected disability is December 7, 2010, the date the combined disability ratings were increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran is not rendered unable to obtain (secure) or maintain (follow) substantially gainful employment as a result of service-connected disabilities for any period.

The Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for arthritis of the hands and feet, epididymitis, and tinnitus have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,An effective date earlier than July 22, 2005, for the award of a total disability rating for cognitive disorder has not been granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and began around the same time. Service connection for this condition is granted.,Service connection for a left ankle disorder is denied as there is no current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for a left knee injury is not resolved. The Veteran's claim for this condition remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the issue of service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to a failure to provide a statement of the case (SOC).

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and the Board grants service connection. The remaining issues are remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right lateral epicondylitis (elbow disability), right shoulder rotator cuff disability, and a right ankle disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms since service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus were incurred during service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis and headaches, right knee disorder, or left knee disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the appellant's current conditions are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for back disability remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying federalized service, and therefore cannot establish service connection for his claimed bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or low back disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's assertions of in-service noise exposure are credible. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as it may be proximately due to or aggravated by the service-connected tinnitus.