Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and squamous cell carcinoma. The decision on tinnitus is based on the Veteran's credible testimony of in-service noise exposure leading to current tinnitus, while the denial of hearing loss and squamous cell carcinoma is due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, but granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include unspecified depressive disorder and PTSD is granted. The Veteran's fear of losing his life during the USS Enterprise fire is considered a contributing factor in his current diagnosis.,COPD due to asbestos exposure is dismissed.

The Board has granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from May 29, 2010. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment since his last day of work in May 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during active service and has been continuous since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected Meniere’s disease with tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been granted a 100 percent evaluation effective from August 22, 2013.

The Veteran's spine condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military noise exposure. Service connection was denied for a left ankle disability due to lack of evidence showing its onset during or within one year after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a direct result of his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle disorder, cervical spine disorder, and back disorder (claimed as a back disorder) due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to showing that these conditions are etiologically 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. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, pay stubs from his National Guard service, and a comprehensive VA audiological examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The initial compensable rating claim for left ear hearing loss is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied initially, but new evidence was submitted reopening the claims. The Board found that while the Veteran did not meet VA criteria for a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, she has been diagnosed with tinnitus related to her military service. Therefore, the claim for tinnitus is granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to exposure to hazardous noise during his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus has been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a VA medical examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service, including his left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is related to in-service noise exposure from military vehicles.,The Veteran's skin disability, including psoriasis and skin cancer, is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to in-service herbicide agent exposure or other service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to in-service stressors or his service-connected skin disability.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective from December 30, 2012, but not earlier, through May 12, 2016. The decision relates back to the date of his claim for service connection for CAD.