Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in February 2008. The current appeal is about a hiatal hernia, back disability (lumbar spine arthritis), and bowel disability (irritable bowel syndrome and rectal bleeding). These claims are currently being evaluated.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim for a skin disorder. The Veteran's right wrist, hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD and/or hiatal hernia), and psychological disorder other than PTSD have been found to be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between current conditions and service. The Veteran's hearing was normal at separation from service, and there is no medical opinion linking his current hearing loss or tinnitus to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chronic renal dysfunction with hypertension, status post left nephrectomy with residual scar was granted and assigned an effective date of May 8, 2014. The earlier effective date for the 60% evaluation is not established.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance is denied as he does not meet the criteria of being helpless or so nearly helpless that he requires regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar sprain disability precludes substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for needing regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection was granted for tinnitus based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and colon disorder. The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or depressive disorder). The Board also granted a 20 percent rating for each lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is pending, and his initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 10, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are inextricably intertwined due to the pending service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 18, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 30 percent, which is below the threshold required. The Board finds that his disabilities are not so severe as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since April 28, 2005.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and to provide the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the etiology of her hearing loss, tinnitus, and left hip/thigh disorder. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in or is otherwise related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was remanded due to inadequate evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain outstanding VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions. The appeal will be remanded to allow for this development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not causally or etiologically related to service, including due to in-service acoustic trauma.