Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

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

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the decision favoring the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant an increased rating or any other favorable determination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not caused by his exposure to excessive noise during military service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, reflecting very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and osteoarthritis of the right shoulder are related to his active military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and has continued since, granting service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's left knee DJD is directly related to his military service.,The Veteran's right knee DJD was proximately due to his service-connected left knee DJD.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have begun in service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection. Service connection is also granted for PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder, as these conditions are related to his reported in-service stressors.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to military service, and the claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU prior to March 18, 2008. The Director of Compensation Service determined that extraschedular consideration was not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the Appellant's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The VA examiner was asked to provide an opinion on whether his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma during any period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. Further efforts to obtain records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) were also requested.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is caused by in-service noise exposure and therefore service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is service connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus disability is service connected.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during active service and is related to his in-service noise exposure. As such, the Board finds that the criteria for service connection are met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The VA examiner opined that these disabilities are less likely than not related to service.