Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen claims for right foot disorder and left foot disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in or caused by military service, and the Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus was caused by or a result of military noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.,Service connection was also granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, with the Board indicating that the evidence supports a link between the Veteran's pre-existing condition and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU for the entire rating period on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of records, including Department of Defense and Department of Labor employment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU before March 15, 2009 and denied an earlier effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the August 2013 VA examiner and attempting to obtain any relevant medical records.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, thyroid cyst, sleep apnea, and arthritis. The decision found that the Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied. The Board has now referred the case back to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened and is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have developed during active service due to exposure to artillery fire. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 14, 2016.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disorder and has not had such a disability at any point since filing his claim for service connection.,Veteran does not have a current tinnitus disorder and has not had such a disability at any point since filing his claim for service connection.,The Veteran does not have a current nasal disorder and has not had such a disability at any point since filing his claim for service connection.,The Veteran does not have a current dental disorder that qualifies for VA disability compensation purposes stemming from his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, particularly related to his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, chronic lumbar strains, and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally and etiologically linked to his active service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.