Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected back disability, which limits him from performing physical or sedentary work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted with an effective date of December 31, 2013. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is December 31, 2013 as no earlier claims were filed.

The Board has determined that training and supplies for the construction of fishing poles are necessary to help the Veteran achieve maximum independence in daily living, based on medical opinions supporting this need.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent since August 8, 2016. The Board found that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities from May 9, 2009 to August 29, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection claims are granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disorder, and other conditions. The appeal is based on new evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and cervical spine disability, finding that there is a relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and granted service connection on a direct basis.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for tinnitus and service connection for ureteral carcinoma were denied. The case is remanded to issue a Statement of the Case on these issues.

The Board finds that the Veteran has tinnitus and service connection is granted. The claims for higher ratings for chronic Achilles' tendonitis are remanded as there may be additional evidence of worsening since the last examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, as it is related to his hearing loss disability. The issue of a compensable evaluation for hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral foot disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.,The Veteran's claim for an eye disorder remains pending due to the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be service-connected as it began during his military service and is related to the in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have first manifested during military service and has recurred on an intermittent basis, meeting the criteria for service connection. The low back disability is presumed to have arisen during active duty due to repetitive movements and a specific incident.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and continues to the present day, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic renal disease associated with diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to acoustic trauma during Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) service. The initial disability rating for the right hand fracture is also granted at a 10% level.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus began in and has continued since service, thus meeting the criteria for service connection. The issue of hearing loss is remanded as there are questions regarding the pre-service status and the validity of the August 1967 audiogram.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his increased rating for bilateral pes planus and denied his claim of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no evidence of chronic tinnitus in service, and the preponderance of the competent evidence is against a finding of a nexus to service.