Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there was no evidence of chronic symptoms within one year post-service and no current medical opinion linking these conditions to in-service noise exposure. The claims were therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and major depressive disorder (MDD). The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen any of these claims. Additionally, it was determined that MDD is not related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his exposure to hazardous noise levels during service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities from September 27, 2005.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to his active duty service. The claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, prostate disability, and hand tingling and pain are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin condition is remanded due to incomplete development of the record. The VA examiner must determine if the Veteran's skin conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred in service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to exposure to acoustic trauma during service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for a right ankle disability, tinnitus, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), with reasonable doubt resolving in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was also denied, but this issue is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim which must be reconsidered first.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is now considered. The Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been granted, as the Veteran has provided credible testimony regarding a continuous presence of symptoms since service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss disabilities, tinnitus, and pleomorphic sarcoma, right upper extremity have all been denied as there is no evidence of an in-service event or injury that would support these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred during his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be caused by noise exposure during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need to consider whether he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation solely by reason of his service-connected disabilities prior to September 25, 2012.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, and his prostate cancer residuals are rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria. The reduction in rating for prostate cancer was proper.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU, and he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his physical and psychological limitations.