Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, CHF and COPD, were not service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided on the merits.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lung disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not found to be related to service. The claim for a lung disorder was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than June 20, 2016, for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining private medical records.

The Board has remanded the TDIU issue due to non-compliance with its directive and for further examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be a result of combat-related noise exposure during service, and the Board grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability did not originate in service, was not manifest within a year of service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, hypertension, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have current diagnoses of PTSD or hearing loss, and his tinnitus was not linked to service.

The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hypertension, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis A, and erectile dysfunction. Special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was withdrawn.,The Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent rating for bilateral temporomandibular dysfunction prior to October 7, 2014 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. ,The Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches prior to October 9, 2014 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter.,The Veteran is entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to address the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus claims. Additionally, he must be provided with a statement of the case concerning his psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, and TDIU claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is more likely related to post-service noise exposure and not due to his military service. The claims for headaches and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions in the medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied right ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum to the July 2014 VA examination opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were incurred in service, with no link to service-connected conditions or other presumptive exposure.