Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure and grants this claim as well.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of tinnitus and PTSD due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for CFS was denied. The TDIU rating prior to January 6, 2017 is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn before a decision could be made, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being needed. The Veteran's hearing loss may have existed prior to service, but further examination is required to determine if it was aggravated by service or related to a congenital defect.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating on an extraschedular basis for his low back disability prior to May 23, 2011 was denied. The Veteran is in receipt of SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to loss of use of both feet.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU was part and parcel of his underlying claim of entitlement to increased ratings for his shoulder condition. The Board denied the TDIU as it appears that the Veteran was gainfully employed, although there is incomplete information regarding the precise dates of employment and whether such was gainful.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, DM with diabetic complications, prostate disability (chronic prostatitis), and heart disability (coronary artery disease) are being remanded for further development.,Additional medical records will be requested to determine the presence of these conditions prior to the Veteran’s death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the need for updated VA treatment records, an addendum opinion regarding threshold shifts during in-service audiograms, and a review of the service connection claim.

Service connection is granted for bilateral tinnitus. The Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure.,Service connection is denied for heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus, II. These conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records, specifically a June 2016 audiogram from the Peoria OPC. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims are inextricably intertwined with the rating issue for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records from the Veteran's civilian employer regarding his hearing test results.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes-related conditions, render him unable to continue working in any substantially gainful capacity. The Board has determined that he is entitled to a TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus disability is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the TDIU claim is denied.