Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective August 6, 2014. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, as evidenced by in-service noise exposure during combat. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent for the period from February 2, 2001, to November 27, 2006. For the period since November 19, 2015, a higher rating is denied as his symptoms do not warrant such an increase.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to an inextricably intertwined issue of service connection for blindness. The case will be returned to the Board after resolving this issue.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from January 30, 2001 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from August 19, 2003 to April 2, 2005 was denied. The Board also found that the criteria for a TDIU prior to April 2, 2005 were not met.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to service. As such, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment prior to February 13, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining complete VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities. The Veteran must also be scheduled for a new examination before service connection can be decided on the merits for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including right knee disability and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, were granted. The specific ratings assigned are provided in the decision summary.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun during service and is therefore granted as incurred in service. The bilateral hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Veteran's request for a hearing via video conference has been granted, and the case is being remanded to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has already granted service connection for tinnitus in a March 2016 decision, and no further action is needed on this issue.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss, tinnitus, or a heart condition during service and denied the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims. The case is being remanded to comply with these orders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to be within normal limits on VA audiological testing. Therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure.,Service connection was denied for left hip replacement and right hip replacement due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a combined evaluation of 70 percent, which is high enough to warrant TDIU from September 13, 2010 to August 6, 2013. The effective date for service connection for PTSD has been set at June 9, 2010.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, and degenerative joint disease of the right ankle have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.