Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision on hearing loss is based on the lack of probative medical evidence linking it to service.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's hiatal hernia and right foot calluses claims were dismissed due to his withdrawal of appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a current disability during service and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have an in-service injury, event, or disease related to his tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left ear tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The case is remanded for additional examination and development regarding his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee disability and muscle strain of the left leg is dismissed. The appeal for tinnitus is granted with an initial rating of 10 percent. The appeal for a residual scar from laceration repair of the left forearm is also granted, but only at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU is being remanded due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected disabilities prior to April 10, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are claimed to be related to exposure to acoustic trauma during service. The VA will need to conduct a new examination to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection for tinnitus, finding that he did not file a claim prior to December 17, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as increased disability ratings for TBI residuals other than major depressive disorder and headaches. The Veteran did not meet the auditory threshold criteria for a bilateral hearing loss disability for service connection purposes and his tinnitus onset was not causally related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hip condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The hip condition is found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective August 19, 2004.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have originated during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the May 2012 VA examiner's opinions are inadequate. The Veteran must provide any outstanding medical records in his possession, including from his VA doctor at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, and SSA records should be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination of his right wrist disability. Service connection claims for tinnitus and right thumb injury are referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in a rating decision issued by the AOJ in March 2017, with an effective date of December 28, 2012. The appeal as to this issue is dismissed because it has been granted and rendered moot.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of reopening service connection claims for low back disorder, prostate disorder, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it began during active duty. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to his military service.