Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right hip, left hip, and right knee DJD as well as tinnitus. The evidence did not show a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been reopened, and both conditions are now granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by service, and if any current hearing loss is related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The issues of increased ratings for bilateral temporomandibular degenerative joint disease and posttraumatic stress disorder with anxiety and panic disorders and agoraphobia are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus was incurred in service and grants the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology and no VA examiner having provided an opinion on all issues. The Veteran's reported in-service injuries are also under consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left arm disability are related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and was first noticed shortly after separation, within the initial post-service year. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted on a presumptive basis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not show onset in or related to service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded the issue of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal of the calculation of his combined rating, which was assigned a 60 percent rating in July 2014, is denied. The AOJ properly calculated the combined rating based on individual ratings at that time.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected because they began during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. Service connection and a 50 percent disability rating are granted for tinnitus and PTSD, respectively.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from May 1, 2009. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities since May 1, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during a qualifying period of service.

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus are being remanded for further evaluation to determine their impact on his employment.