Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are causally related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and increased the Veteran's PTSD rating to 70 percent, effective July 19, 2010. The other issues remain pending as they are not fully resolved.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent from August 13, 2013. The Board denied his claim for a higher rating and TDIU due to the severity of his service-connected conditions not meeting the criteria for total disability based on individual unemployability.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's incarceration and inability to be personally examined. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including back injury, right knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and has granted service connection for this condition. The claim for right ear hearing loss remains pending as a VA examination was not conducted.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to Alzheimer's disease, which is not service-connected. The Board finds that the appellant does not have legal entitlement to accrued benefits as no claims were pending at the time of his death and there are no existing ratings or decisions in her favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety and depression) are all denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss or any other disability related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and tinnitus. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure to noise during active duty. The claim for tinnitus, gastrointestinal disability, and prostate disability are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and granted it. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to be due to noise exposure during active service.,Service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease was also granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for a service-connected scar, status post right knee cystectomy and entitlement to a compensable evaluation for service-connected right spermatocele and left variscocele asymptomatic. The claim for service connection for COPD is reopened but denied as there is no evidence that it is related to the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a nose condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder). The most probative evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of September 26, 2012 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. This decision satisfies his request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records and provide additional medical opinions regarding his hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to noise exposure during his military service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased rating for GERD and service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for medical opinions regarding right shoulder and knee disorders.