Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his in-service injury, and as such, the cervical spine and left hip disorders are also considered secondary to this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's diabetes, tinnitus, hearing loss, hemorrhoids, hand blisters, and a lung disability to include asbestosis were found to have their onset in service or are related to an in-service event. The upper and lower extremity neuropathies, vision problems including retinopathy, and atherosclerosis including coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease are caused or aggravated by the now sevice-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, with the reasoning that his symptoms began during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are related to his military noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with the conditions being presumed due to herbicide exposure during his active duty. The claims for diabetes mellitus, lymphoma, and prostate cancer remain pending.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to hazardous noise. As such, these conditions have been granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has determined that TDIU should be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. The left ankle/foot condition claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, and his GERD is rated at the maximum available under the applicable rating criteria. The issues of higher evaluations for sleep apnea and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, deviated septum, headaches, tinnitus, and a stomach disability are granted. A rating of 70 percent is assigned for PTSD prior to January 14, 2014.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are now granted as they arose during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board also granted service connection for both conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during or as a result of his military service, and thus denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 60 percent. However, his unemployability is attributed to his PTSD symptoms which render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease, PTSD, major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, bilateral cataracts, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension, likely preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to TDIU for the entire period on appeal.