Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure and acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have continuous symptoms of tinnitus since service separation and that there was no evidence linking current tinnitus to active military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found to be related to service, while his tinnitus was considered incurred in service.

The Veteran's initial rating for mood disorder is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied due to his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment despite service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD, sleep apnea, migraines, left ankle strain, tinnitus, hypertension, costochondritis, allergic rhinitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis are all rated at the maximum schedular ratings. The Veteran's Restless Leg Syndrome is rated as 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's PTSD is linked to an in-service stressor, while his BHL and tinnitus are not attributable to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The claims are now remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Board has granted disability ratings for the service-connected low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claim was reopened due to new evidence received since the prior final October 2010 rating decision.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened, but denied due to lack of evidence supporting the claims. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted and others are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are currently rated at 10 percent each, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that a higher initial rating for either condition is not warranted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while tinnitus is considered a symptom of the service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was not filed prior to July 2, 2013. Therefore, the effective date of the grant of service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder, and therefore denied service connection for PTSD. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals on all issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding private treatment records and the need for medical opinions regarding his heart disability, peptic ulcer disease, and gastritis.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, rated at 80 percent since March 13, 2014, and tinnitus disability, rated at 10 percent since April 8, 2009, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.