Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus are rated at their maximum levels, but the Board has granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted as new and material evidence has been received. However, the criteria for a TDIU are not met due to his service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and insomnia disorder have all been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to additional development of evidence.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and colon condition. The current VA examination reports are inadequate as they do not provide sufficient rationale or consideration of the lay statements provided by the Veteran.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability or tinnitus during the Veteran's first period of service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the May 2011 rating decision.

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

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from July 2012 due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and ischemic heart disease, preventing him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence showing a history of tinnitus dating back over 20 years.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss remains denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, as the evidence supports a finding that these conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be readjudicated after this.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for service connection for an eye condition is being remanded to the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder and denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran is now entitled to increased ratings for his PTSD with alcohol abuse, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for tinnitus, but not for bilateral hearing loss disability or depression. The Veteran's testimony and lay statements support his reports of symptoms during service and thereafter.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The appeals for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were dismissed due to withdrawal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of PTSD, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss result in unemployability due to their impact on his occupational functioning.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right hip strain, PTSD, and mood disorder have been granted service connection. The rating for the right hip strain has been increased to 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities, as well as failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service noise exposure causing her current tinnitus, and therefore, service connection cannot be granted. For TDIU prior to February 10, 2015, the Veteran's combined disability rating did not meet the percentage requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The Board also found that her service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.