Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cold injury residuals are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed tinnitus had its onset in service and is related to his in-service noise exposure, which satisfies the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum allowed. The VA examiner found no impact of bilateral hearing loss on his activities of daily life and work. There is no current diagnosis related to his hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of vision, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for loss of vision. For hearing loss and tinnitus, the Board determined there was no in-service injury or disease, and the time gap between service and onset made it less likely than not that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. This includes obtaining service treatment records, SSA records, and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to determine the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure or follow gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus, headaches, lower back disability, and depression are all service-connected.,Right upper extremity radiculopathy is rated at 50 percent, while hypothyroidism remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and concluded that the current conditions are not related to military service.

The Veteran's combined schedular disability rating was 100 percent, and he is contending that he is unemployable due to a combination of these same service-connected disabilities. The criteria for the assignment of a TDIU are not met.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU and his service-connected disabilities prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus, lumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with HLA B-27 positive genetic status, and rheumatoid arthritis are not related to service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with headaches that began in service and tinnitus linked to acoustic trauma during service. The Board finds these conditions are related to his military service.,The Veteran reported symptoms of sleep apnea since 1995, coinciding with his service period. A VA physician opined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is likely due to in-service exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for numbness and burning in feet with loss of toenails due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his psychiatric disability, preclude him from substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that it is as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for pes planus of the left foot or tinnitus, and there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for various conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, malaria, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), bilateral tinnitus, initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU based on service-connected disabilities. The decision also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen a claim of service connection for asthma.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss, as well as tinnitus, are found to have been incurred during active duty service due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection is granted for these conditions.