Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder and lumbar strain with sciatica, have prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment since April 12, 2011. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective as of that date.

The Board has remanded the claims of hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure or significant hearing threshold shift. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to post-service events.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus due to conceded in-service military noise exposure. However, the case of bilateral hearing loss is remanded as no VA examiner provided an adequate opinion on its etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 6260. The appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and heart disorder due to the receipt of additional relevant service records. The claims will be reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to acoustic trauma suffered during military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, left foot crush injury residuals, residuals of fractured ribs, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and Guillain-Barre Syndrome remain denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, left foot crush injury residuals, residuals of fractured ribs, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and Guillain-Barre Syndrome remain denied.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence. The Board also found that these conditions are related to his military service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for fibromyositis, lumbosacral spine with spasm (back condition), left ankle condition, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic rhinitis, esophagitis, and gastritis have been dismissed due to lack of new and material evidence. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met, and that the claims for earlier effective dates are also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. A VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and skin disability are inadequate due to incomplete records. The Veteran is being asked to provide contact information for Chrysler where his medical records can be obtained. Additionally, an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or necessary adaptive equipment due to lack of loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, or hips.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of an initial rating for PTSD.