Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as VA treatment records are needed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. However, the Board found insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between the current hearing loss disabilities and military service.

The Board denied service connection for right eye cataract, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's right eye cataract was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury, to include diabetes mellitus or left eye retinopathy. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be causally related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim of reopening the previously denied low back disorder was also granted.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective July 24, 2005 due to his service-connected ear disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2008, for the reinstatement of VA benefits was denied as VA cannot resume compensation payments more than one year prior to the date of claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus on an extraschedular basis, finding that the combined schedular ratings adequately capture the functional impact of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to its inextricably intertwined relationship with a pending claim for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and any pertinent medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, headaches, lower back disability, bilateral hip disability as secondary to the lower back disability, neck disability, and left knee disability. The appeal was dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal for the claim for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service and he is granted service connection for this condition.,There is no evidence of an in-service event or injury with regard to the Veteran's diagnosed right eye blindness. The claim for this condition is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the earliest date of receipt of a claim is October 22, 2009.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to noise during active duty. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no credible evidence of a relationship between his current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 50% rating effective May 20, 2016. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been rated at 30 percent since December 8, 2006. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from December 8, 2006, based on the combined impact of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy (heart conditions), diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, thus granting a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability or evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation. The decision also found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service.