Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficiently severe to inhibit his ability to obtain gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 25, 2016 is being remanded as the Board finds that there are circumstances which warrant extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, PTSD, skin disorder, paralysis of the median nerve, and paralysis of the sciatic nerve. The decision found that there was no evidence of a current disability in most cases and that the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents did not apply due to lack of service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty service. The claims for higher ratings and effective dates have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for asthma and granted it. Service connection was also established for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination for hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues of service connection are still under consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, make it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that his combined disability rating is significant enough to preclude him from maintaining such employment.

The Veteran is granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as both conditions are found to be related to his military service.

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

The Board has denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, degenerative disc disease (back disorder), and tinnitus as they are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially related to a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus as there is no current disability of tinnitus and the evidence does not support a link between in-service noise exposure and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that reopening of the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is warranted, and that granting of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is in order.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for service connection will be adjudicated again after obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to noise during combat in Vietnam. As such, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss, but not for bilateral knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service. Service connection was also granted for larynx cancer, but an initial compensable rating remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a pulmonary disorder (chronic bronchitis), renal disorder (renal artery stenosis with renal insufficiency), and psychiatric disorder. The decision found that these conditions were not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and an SOC for the issue of service connection for tinnitus.