Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his exposure to excessive levels of noise during his active military service, and thus service connection is granted for both conditions.

Service connection for migraines as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and/or tinnitus is granted.,The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus have not been met.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss disability. The case is REMANDED for further development, including a VA audiological evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure, continuous symptoms since service separation, or a relationship between current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they were received more than one year after his separation from active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not linked to disease or injury incurred in active service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's current hearing loss was less likely due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD with MDD, left shoulder condition, right and left knee conditions, pseudofolliculitis barbae, tinnitus, and right knee condition, have resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent. The Veteran is therefore eligible for TDIU.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Board has vacated the January 4, 2018 decision and dismissed all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were of such severity prior to December 16, 2011 so as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but his subjective factors do not allow him to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, status-post septoplasty was granted a 30 percent rating effective July 13, 2015.,Service connection for tinnitus was established.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service due to exposure to combat noise, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, while the knee conditions have not been linked to service. The claims for left knee condition and right knee condition are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right knee disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or TDIU prior to May 27, 2009.

The Veteran's combined rating was determined to be 90 percent, effective November 14, 2011. The Board found that the current ratings were accurate and an increased rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues of left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, chronic ear infection, allergic rhinitis, and tinnitus is dismissed as these conditions are already in effect due to a September 2017 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to October 22, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus and right ear hearing loss do not render him unemployable, as his disabilities are rated at the minimum levels and do not significantly impact his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment.