Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected tinnitus disability and consideration of whether to refer the matter for extra-schedular evaluation.

The Veteran is found unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The combined rating of these conditions meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, tinnitus, chest pain, hypertension, and supraventricular arrhythmia, have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU. Regarding the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches on an extraschedular basis, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture that the available schedular evaluations are inadequate.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from the July 2015 VA examiner regarding the extent of functional impairment due to his service-connected right and left upper and lower extremity neuritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, with the onset of symptoms during service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or incident that resulted in the Veteran's current right knee disability, and thus denied service connection for this condition.,For his left knee disability, the Board determined there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the condition and service. The Veteran's left knee disability is not considered related to any incident during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, make him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) are met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners to address the nature and etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and lung disability claims. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and GERD have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.,Service connection has not been established for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis, all joints is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the course of the appeal.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted based on in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.,Service connection for back condition is denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to active service. The Veteran's reported medical history does not support a finding that he had this condition during service or related it to service.,Prior to January 1, 2014, the Veteran was awarded non-service connected pension benefits as his income did not exceed the maximum limit for such benefits. As of January 1, 2014, his income exceeded the maximum limit and he is no longer eligible for these benefits.

The Board has determined that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's tinnitus, finding it incurred in active duty military service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and a left shoulder disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin disability (tinea versicolor) are all service-connected. The decision also notes that the Veteran's in-service exposure to combat noise trauma likely contributed to his current conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference Board hearing. The claims will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not caused by his exposure to excessive noise during military service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right and left knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral foot disability are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected.,His headaches are found to be secondary to his PTSD.,His low back disorder is service-connected as a result of injury in service.,No specific issues regarding bilateral knee or left hip disorders were addressed due to the withdrawal of appeal for these claims.,Tinnitus was granted based on combat exposure and noise trauma during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus. The right ear hearing loss claim remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not originate in service or within a year of discharge, and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for clarification on the impact of his service-connected conditions and nonservice-connected substance abuse disorder on his employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70% disabling since June 25, 2008 and the Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.