Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is service-connected, while his left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability prior to December 12, 2014, and increased the rating to 20 percent thereafter. As of June 9, 2015, he is entitled to a maximum 40 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to noise during his aircraft instrument repair duties. As such, the appeal for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a separate compensable rating for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were dismissed as they are not assignable due to lack of timely appeal or submission of new evidence.,The claim for new and material evidence for prostatitis was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable due to their combined effect, as his overall disability rating is at least 70% and he has the ability to perform substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his occupational functioning. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular rating will also be remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current Meniere's disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to service or any other service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to in-service noise exposure, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and personnel information, as well as for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient examination findings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability, right knee strain, left knee strain, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 11, 2011. Effective from August 11, 2011, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for head injury, tinnitus, and left shoulder condition as the evidence did not establish a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is less than the 100% required for TDIU, and his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence showing a current disability or a link to service.

The Board found that the appellant's income exceeded the maximum pension rates, thus denying her entitlement to death pension benefits.,The Board determined that reduction of the appellant's death pension benefits to $0.00 from January 1, 2012 was proper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus are not related to his military service.,Both conditions did not manifest within one year of his discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for failure to remove her left ovary is pending, as the appeal does not specify this issue. The tinnitus claim has been reopened and service connection granted. The increased rating claim for residual scar status post abdominal hysterectomy is also pending.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new medical opinion.