Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is etiologically related to exposure to acoustic trauma in service, and the Board finds that service connection for tinnitus is warranted as directly incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, while his hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA purposes.

The Veteran's facial scars are rated as 10 percent disabling, but an increased rating of 30 percent is granted.,The claims for service connection for a back disability and residuals of a head injury have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left hamstring injury, and an emotional distress and depression (psychiatric disorder). The claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee was reopened but not granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, and psychiatric disability have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during service or within one year after separation, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a nexus to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury and tinnitus have been reopened, and the evidence is in equipoise on whether these conditions are related to service. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to service, and his heart disability is considered a direct result of service. The Board granted the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether it was incurred during military service due to noise exposure.

The Board has found that the Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to November 26, 2014. For the period from November 26, 2014, the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he can obtain and maintain such employment.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 14, 2013 for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus were denied. The claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was granted based on service aggravation. The low back disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and cervical spine disability are service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability have not been established as service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and dismissed the appeals regarding bilateral hearing loss, ptosis, and right thumb arthralgia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and cataracts, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 14, 2011. The Board grants entitlement to TDIU from that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. Tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus disability has been established, and the Board finds that service connection is warranted based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his noise exposure during active duty service in Vietnam, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left eye impaired vision, and tinnitus. Service connection is denied for residuals of pneumonia.