Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to noise, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred in or due to his active duty service. As such, the claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's back condition is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after his military service and there is no evidence linking the current disability to service.,Bilateral hearing loss was not shown to have occurred in service, did not manifest for several years thereafter, and is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are attributable to in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection for these conditions. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded as it pertains to a different issue.

The Veteran's tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are all found to be related to his service-connected disabilities. The Board grants the claims for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is attributable to active service due to in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are causally related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with notice of how to substantiate a claim for entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent for residuals of head injury, and separately assigned ratings of 10 percent for headaches, 30 percent for peripheral vestibular disorder, and 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Veteran's right index finger disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of this rating is not warranted.,For the period prior to October 19, 2011, the Veteran was service-connected for PTSD (70%), residuals of a gunshot wound to the right index finger (10%), tinnitus (10%), and bilateral hearing loss (noncompensable). His combined evaluation did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to January 7, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service-connected hearing loss or otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor. The claim for service connection for a right ankle disability is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, while hypertension is secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, ischemic heart disease, tinnitus, scars, bilateral hearing loss, and urticaria, combine to a 70 percent disability rating. The Board finds that the evidence supports the assignment of a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to active service.,The Veteran's preexisting lumbar spine disorder was not aggravated by active duty service. The cervical, knee, hip, stomach, headache, and right shoulder disorders were not shown in service or for many years thereafter.