Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally or etiologically due to noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's diabetes was diagnosed during a period of ACDUTRA, while his hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown to be related to active duty or ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's PTSD, tinea versicolor, and tinnitus were all rated at their maximum allowable levels under the applicable VA rating criteria. The combined rating for these conditions was correctly calculated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and employment background.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear tinnitus, PTSD, and oral cancer can be adjudicated. The Veteran must file timely appeals in response to the September 2017 SOCs addressing these issues. Additionally, a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's oral cancer is required.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability are granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the issues of service connection for tinnitus, increased ratings for post-operative residuals of a total abdominal hysterectomy with right salpingo-oophorectomy, peptic ulcer disease, gastritis and a small hiatal hernia; and an increased rating for thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 70 percent, and he is granted a separate compensable disability rating for TBI. The hearing loss in the left ear has been service-connected, and his migraine headaches have also received an increased rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling prior to May 16, 2012. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU for his service-connected disabilities prior to May 10, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are causally related to his military service, specifically due to noise exposure during active duty. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are due to in-service acoustic trauma, while his left ear hearing loss is not. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection and an initial non-compensable rating for his thoracic spine disability. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding whether the current tinnitus had its onset in service, granting service connection based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, but granted service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria, and the examiner found that the Veteran's symptoms are more likely due to presbycusis or other etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure. The Board finds additional development necessary for the remaining issues on appeal, including a VA examination for hearing loss and hypertension.