Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability, along with his educational attainment and occupational experience, precludes him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that a Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

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 caused by or a result of noise exposure during active service. The claim for sleeping problems is remanded due to lack of diagnosis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his period of active service and he was granted service connection for PTSD with a 30 percent rating effective December 5, 2014. The RO also granted an increased rating to 50 percent for PTSD effective September 5, 2015.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of noise exposure during service, and there is no objective evidence of a significant threshold shift beyond normal measurement variability during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there was no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran is therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they were not incurred during or as a result of his military service. The lung disability is service-connected, but the Board finds that it is not related to his in-service pneumonia.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted service connection for a left thumb injury with a non-compensable rating. The Veteran's bilateral foot disability (other than pes planus) was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied, but his left ear hearing loss is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the scheduled hearing.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms post-service.

The Board has determined that a new VA audiological examination is necessary to fully address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for entitlement to earlier effective dates for TDIU, DEA, and PTSD. The RO granted these benefits on April 4, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with a finding of at least equipoise evidence in favor of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are incurred in or caused by his military service, warranting a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with tinnitus being more likely than not due to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of cancer to the back of the tongue were denied as these conditions are not related to his military service. The claim for residuals of cancer to the back of the tongue was granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, variously diagnosed, are proximately due to or caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is also found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current hearing loss is related to otosclerosis, a genetic condition, and not due to in-service acoustic trauma or other exposure. The tinnitus was found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during service and is not related to his military service. As a result, service connection for tinnitus was denied.