Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus is being remanded for a supplemental VA medical opinion to determine if it was caused or worsened by his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for prostate cancer is dismissed. The appeal on the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities have rendered him unemployable. The Board granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) effective April 1, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowed. Service connection for major depressive disorder and cervical spine disability are granted, with hearing loss not reopened due to lack of new evidence.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral tinnitus was not present in service, was not manifested to a compensably disabling degree within the first year after discharge from service, and is not shown to be etiologically related to his active military service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is a result of in-service acoustic trauma and had its onset during service. Therefore, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete service records, lack of in-service treatment records reflecting findings pertinent to auditory acuity, and the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and inadequate previous examination. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being reviewed for possible service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DM II, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for residuals of uterine fibroids, to include anemia. The decision also dismissed the appeal as to the claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder due to its grant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from active duty, and it is not otherwise related to his active duty service. The current tinnitus disorder was also found not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of service, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There was no medical opinion establishing a link between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent under the rating criteria for tinnitus, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable, as he has a history of steady employment and current full-time employment. The Board finds that the service-connected disabilities were not sufficiently incapacitating to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset during service, is not present continuously since discharge, and is not related to his active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to inadequate etiological opinions regarding his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 30, 2013.