Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are etiologically related to service, while his residuals of a cold injury have not been established as being directly related to service. The claim for service connection for residuals of a cold injury is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as secondary to hearing loss and tinnitus.

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 is granted a TDIU due to service-connected Meniere's syndrome with bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the current evidence is insufficient to determine whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus, DM2, and PTSD have been granted service connection. The Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent for PTSD, which meets the criteria for a higher rating. His DM2 has also been granted an increased rating to 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. Additional examinations are also needed to assess the current severity of his right hip, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with continuity of symptoms since separation. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and anxiety disorder NOS are all service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records. The Veteran's claims are not yet decided.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and substance abuse disorder, is related to his military service. His tinnitus was also linked to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, blood clots of the right leg, hemoptysis (claimed as blood in the sputum), and chondroma of the left ring finger due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board has determined that the anxiety disorder NOS with PTSD warrants a 30 percent disability rating prior to June 22, 2012, and no higher. From June 22, 2012, the Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS with PTSD warrants a maximum of a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and tinnitus, both linked to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities as defined by VA regulation. The examiner must also opine on whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities or causation due to military noise exposure.