Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no communication prior to April 2, 2012, that can be construed as a claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus, a condition recognized as a chronic disease under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a), is found to have had its onset during service and continues since then. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied in the July 2010 rating decision. The Board found that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, valvular heart disease, tinnitus, and glaucoma, make it at least as likely as not that he cannot secure or maintain employment due to his conditions. As a result, the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dermatitis/eczema on hands, gastritis, and tinnitus have been remanded due to the need for additional examination.,An effective date prior to December 22, 2011 is denied for the award of service connection for dermatitis/eczema on hands.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as the evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,The Veteran's residuals of cold weather injury in his hands and feet are denied because there is no current diagnosis or treatment records indicating such injuries.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to noise exposure during service. The Veteran's statements about noise exposure are considered credible, but the VA examination report did not adequately address this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of right hand condition and bilateral eye condition are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his TDIU claim from October 11, 2012 to July 12, 2017 was denied due to lack of evidence showing he is unemployable because of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, tinnitus, and LBBB. The Veteran's claim for left knee and right knee disabilities is also remanded. The effective date of the increased rating for LBBB remains August 28, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the current examination did not adequately address these issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to exposure to acoustic trauma during active service and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The decision on the hearing loss claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent since November 15, 2012.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinion is inadequate and new treatment records are needed. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus may be related to in-service noise exposure, but further examination and evidence collection are required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, depression, asthma, diabetes, and hearing loss, render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU since July 23, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and sleep apnea due to inadequate VA examinations. The claims are being returned for further development.