Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his right arm injury, including obtaining service treatment records and line of duty determinations.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 17, 2009 for a 10% rating for bilateral tinnitus is denied as there was no submission of a valid claim within one year of the liberalizing regulations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied them based on lack of evidence showing a nexus to in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition was not addressed as it is considered new and material.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his period of active service. The claims for right middle finger injury, right fifth finger crushed knuckle disability, and right ankle condition were not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are service-connected as they were caused by exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during active service or within one year of service discharge, and are not otherwise related to active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements of in-service noise exposure are credible and that his current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 11, 2014 for the grant of a TDIU. The decision concluded that the evidence did not support earlier effective dates due to lack of unemployability within one year prior to February 11, 2014.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it. The Veteran's tinnitus is also found to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than December 5, 2015, for the awards of service connection for bilateral pes planus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as his initial Intent to File form did not specify the general benefits he sought.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, and his claim for a higher rating for residuals of a fractured nose was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support reopening the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss or establishing service connection for either condition. For tinnitus, the Veteran's lay contentions were deemed insufficient to establish service connection as there is no current diagnosis and his denial of tinnitus during the appeal period. Regarding residuals of a fractured nose, the Board found that while noise exposure was conceded, there was no evidence linking any current symptoms to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding his wrist disorder, respiratory disorder, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating, effective October 28, 2010. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective April 5, 2013.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be related to his active service.,PTSD is rated at 50 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty. The continuity of symptoms from in-service noise exposure is established, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus was granted with resolution of doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss disability remains denied. The Veteran also has a claim for an increased rating for residuals of compression fractures at T10 and L2.