Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 10 percent, and the appeal for an evaluation in excess of this rating has been denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found this rating to be appropriate. The hypertension case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD due to inadequate examination findings and missing private medical records.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an inguinal hernia and granted it. The claim of service connection for tinnitus is also granted, but the issue of lower extremity residuals of a frostbite injury is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment from June 8, 2007 to May 1, 2010.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder prior to April 10, 2013. A 50 percent rating was granted thereafter. The Board also remanded three knee service connection issues, the hearing loss extraschedular issue and the TDIU issue. From March 13, 2014, a TDIU based on combined ratings of service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and major depressive disorder has been granted, as well as claims for residuals of a laceration to the face above the left eye, upper body disorders including a left shoulder disorder, and tinnitus. The appeals were reopened due to new evidence submitted since previous decisions.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for traumatic brain injury and service connection for tinnitus were granted. The appeals to reopen his claims of bilateral hearing loss, left ear infection, left ankle disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right eye disability are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus, finding that no formal or informal claim was filed prior to March 6, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, healed surgical incision, fracture residuals with degenerative arthritis, and tinnitus do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of seizures. Service connection is granted for COPD including emphysema, and the case is remanded for further evaluation on issues related to tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is needed on the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss so an additional medical opinion can be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal of a non-compensable rating for his hearing loss was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient examination reports. The claim for low back disorder remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to hazardous noise, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that the new evidence supports the reopening of the claim, and that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for PTSD, back disability, neck disability, respiratory disability, tinnitus, and CFS. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered in determining whether these conditions are related to his military service.