Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to May 5, 2010, meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee DJD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left inguinal hernia disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. Service connection was denied for Crohn's disease.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's left inguinal hernia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection, but the initial noncompensable disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability (to include bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The appellant's service connection claim is based on direct evidence of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, lung cancer, and tinnitus are found to be of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during active service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his current tinnitus disability is related to noise exposure during military service. The issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss.,Service connection is denied for Meniere's disease with transmastoid labrynthectomy.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to December 15, 2016 was denied because his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of communication from the Veteran prior to September 25, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues related to ischemic heart disease, residual surgical scars post coronary artery bypass graft, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service was not during a period of war, and therefore he did not meet the qualifying service requirement for nonservice-connected death pension benefits. The claim is denied as a matter of law.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but remands them for further development as detailed in the letter.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the current condition began during active service due to noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases of tinnitus, low back disability, right hip condition, and right leg (knee) condition for further development. The Veteran's claims are not about service connection at all in these cases.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for COPD and hernia. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted.