Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and other disabilities. The issue of a TDIU will also be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, including noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding for either direct or presumed service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for these disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they are less likely caused by or a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that the earliest date of a pending claim for service connection for tinnitus was August 9, 2011. Therefore, an effective date earlier than this date is not warranted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the Veteran's exposure to noise in service and whether his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to such exposure. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran is entitled to an educational assistance benefit level of 100 percent under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) due to his service-connected disabilities and the fact that he was discharged from service due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between current hearing disabilities and in-service noise exposure from gun fire. The Appellant's period of ACDUTRA was found to have included noise exposure but no disability was shown at separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to failure to report for a scheduled Board hearing and other procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his left ear, but he has a current right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The evidence shows that the Veteran had acoustic trauma during service and currently experiences symptoms of tinnitus since service. Service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, are of sufficient severity to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of his knee, low back, and left ankle disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches/dizziness have been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, there is no current diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury or service-connected psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and secure substantial gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unemployable, as they significantly impact his ability to work in his prior capacity as a geologist.