Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure. The Board also found that there was no rebuttable presumption against him due to a lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current condition and service.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,There is at least equipoise evidence that the Veteran's tinnitus was caused by his active duty service.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus, heart disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and COPD are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and is related to his active duty service, granting service connection. The issue of a bilateral knee disorder remains pending as additional evidence was requested.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for tinnitus and labyrinthitis prior to June 25, 2013 were denied as the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that his conditions warranted higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertensive retinopathy was granted with an effective date of March 9, 2006, the date she was first diagnosed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed tinnitus had its onset during his military service. The Veteran's back disorder is also found to have been incurred in service, with a grant of service connection.

The Veteran has been rated as 60 percent disabled for back disability since May 15, 1996. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities and grants TDIU from May 15, 1996 to January 23, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these issues prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the Veteran's character of discharge from service for the period prior to February 2, 1991 was not a bar to VA benefits. However, his subsequent service during and after this period is considered dishonorable, thus barring him from receiving VA compensation benefits for any diseases or injuries incurred or aggravated during these periods.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. As a result, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there are no prior pending claims, and the earliest effective date that can be assigned is January 20, 2012.