Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and other conditions such as anxiety disorder, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest in service or to a compensable degree within one year after service separation, were not continuous since service, and are not shown by the weight of the competent and probative evidence of record to be otherwise etiologically related to service. The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by chronic sleep impairment (including nightmares), mood disturbances (depression, anxiety, irritability), some social isolation with mistrust or suspiciousness of others, and difficulties with social relationships and managing social conflict.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and tinnitus was denied. The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and the VA examiner did not find a link between current symptoms and in-service stressors. However, the Veteran's credible statements regarding the onset and continuity of his tinnitus were considered sufficient to grant service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and loss of teeth are service-connected as they are related to his active military service. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed due to exposure to acoustic trauma in service, while his loss of teeth is considered secondary to a broken mandible sustained during service.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, given the inadequate opinions in the November 2009 VA examination. The appeal is REMANDED.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, scars, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, right hand arthritis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU due to his combined disability rating of 80 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and medical opinions are necessary to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right and left ankle sprains, as well as whether his diagnosed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his conceded exposure to acoustic trauma in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are supported by evidence, meeting the first requirement for service connection. The second element is also met as there is in-service noise exposure consistent with his military duties. Given all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that his tinnitus had its onset during service and grants service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral tinnitus did not have its onset during active duty and is not related to his period of service. As such, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral arm disorders (including left shoulder), and bilateral hand disorders are denied. Service connection is granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bronchial asthma was denied on the merits in August 1966 and again in August 1970. The evidence received since then does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent tinnitus, which began during active service and persists, is service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they meet the criteria for consideration as disabilities due to in-service noise exposure, with continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are claimed as related to noise exposure in service. The Veteran served as an Air Policeman where he was exposed to jet engine noise.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling an audiological examination. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being evaluated to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her posttraumatic stress disorder. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and a back disorder are also being remanded.