Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board found that reducing the Veteran's disability compensation benefits due to his incarceration for a felony was proper, as he has been incarcerated since December 2014 and VA reduced his rate of payment accordingly.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep disorder are all found to be related to service. The lumbar degenerative joint disease, myofascial cervical syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis and ligamentous instability, and right ankle sprain with osteoarthritis and ligamentous instability have been granted initial compensable ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, with no rating assigned or effective date provided.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether tinnitus is related to military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a need for new examinations and consideration of outstanding records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, warranting service connection. The right ear hearing loss disability is currently not considered a compensable disability for VA purposes.

New evidence has been submitted, raising the possibility of substantiating the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's service connection is granted based on the established link between in-service noise exposure and current conditions.,The Veteran's service connection is granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service acoustic trauma and has granted service connection for this condition. The appeal regarding an increased rating for a bilateral foot disability was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service loud noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for these disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's multiple reports of recurrent tinnitus since service are sufficient to establish continuity of symptomatology, which is considered a chronic disease under VA regulations. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is established under continuity of symptomology and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as there are no VA audiological examinations in the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disorder were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board found that the current diagnoses are not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, both conditions were not shown during service or within one year of separation, and there is no medical nexus linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, as his combined rating is less than the required 60% for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, as his lay statements along with other evidence support this conclusion. As a result, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected due to the lack of continuous total disability rating for at least ten years prior to his death. The Veteran had multiple disabilities, but they were rated as separate conditions and did not meet the criteria for a single condition that would qualify him for a 100% combined evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a result of noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are caused or aggravated by his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his degree of hearing loss did not meet the standards for a compensable evaluation during the appeal period.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was determined to be October 25, 2012, which is the date of receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and information from the Social Security Administration.