Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Central Office hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and coronary artery disease are pending.

From December 29, 2010 to October 10, 2012, the Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 60 percent and his tinnitus at 10 percent.,The Veteran is now entitled to a 100 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss as of October 10, 2012. He also qualifies for SMC based on deafness in both ears starting from that date.,Prior to October 10, 2012, the Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. With reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, both conditions are now considered related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ankylosing spondylitis and tinnitus are related to service, with the former being aggravated by a 1974 automobile accident in service and the latter likely due to medication used for his ankylosing spondylitis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service.,The Veteran's lower back disability has been rated as 40 percent disabling, with no higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her hypertension, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and low back disability.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective August 10, 2010, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of postoperative prostate cancer, PTSD, diabetes, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss are reasonably shown to be of such nature and severity as to prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU rating is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that TDIU is not warranted.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus. The Board also determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for his tinnitus, as it is likely proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disability, diabetes mellitus, tremors, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish in-service exposure to herbicides or other events that could link these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected conditions have been denied. The current ratings of 10 percent are maintained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits, and no new and material evidence has been presented to reopen this claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis and for entitlement to TDIU. The evidence did not support granting these claims.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to in-service noise exposure. The case has been remanded for additional development including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and skin disability. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his military service, including exposure to noise during combat operations in Vietnam. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.