Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is considered a chronic disease that manifested in service and has continued since then.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including irritable bowel syndrome, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from December 6, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss is not considered to have been aggravated by service, while tinnitus had its onset during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to incomplete medical opinions, inconsistencies in the evidence, and other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal of his claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, skin disability (rash on lower extremities), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, further development is needed as VA examinations are required to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are the result of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease alone renders him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and he is also eligible for special monthly compensation based on housebound status due to multiple service-connected disabilities. However, he does not meet the criteria for regular aid and attendance benefits.

The Veteran's claim for reopening the tinnitus claim and service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that there is at least equipoise evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's low back strain is rated at 20 percent, and service connection for tinnitus is granted. The decision on the increased rating for low back strain was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD and tinnitus, finding that VA did not receive a claim prior to February 5, 2015.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for consideration by the Director of Compensation Service due to his service-connected disabilities and inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the evidence now supports a finding of service connection for some disabilities due to jet fuel exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there may be outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained, including those from pages 24-294 of the uploaded records. Additionally, new military audiograms from 1970 and 1972 have been added to the file.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The increase in hearing loss is attributed to aggravation during service, while the onset of tinnitus is conceded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure and grants this claim. For the sinus problems, the case is remanded as there is evidence of a possible worsening since the last VA examination.