Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU on March 13, 2018, due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service and granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot disability, and left ankle disability due to insufficient service dates provided. The appellant is seeking service connection for these conditions based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that these conditions began during service or are related to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran now has service-connected disabilities for both tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding these conditions being related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as of October 28, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus for accrued benefits purposes, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and SMC based on Aid and Attendance/Housebound.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of right knee disability is dismissed as moot due to the revision of the September 1983 rating decision on CUE. Service connection for various conditions including cervical spine, bilateral hip disorder, left leg condition, and psychiatric disorders are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of available service treatment records. The Veteran contends that his hearing disabilities are related to in-service acoustic trauma, but VA is unable to locate these records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude substantially gainful employment prior to March 30, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an inadequate examination in October 2014. The Veteran's hearing loss is related to noise trauma during service, but the examiner found normal hearing at separation.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of a nexus between the Veteran's current tinnitus and his military service. New evidence submitted since January 2013 is not considered new and material, thus the claim remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to in-service acoustic trauma. The appeal is based on direct service connection rather than any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied in multiple rating decisions, and the Board found no clear and unmistakable error to reverse or amend these decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to lack of a comprehensive VA examination, incomplete STRs, and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran is required to undergo an audiology examination to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection and rating for various conditions, as well as a hearing loss evaluation. The effective date for tinnitus remains November 3, 2014.

The Veteran's tinnitus is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's stomach problems are being remanded for a VA examination to determine their nature and etiology.,The Veteran's chest problems are being remanded for a VA examination to determine their nature and etiology.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology.,The Veteran's headaches are being remanded for a VA examination to determine their nature and etiology.,The Veteran's right leg condition is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology.,The Veteran's left leg condition is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection due to the Veteran's death.