Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but the claim for low back disability is remanded due to scheduling issues.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the case for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an error in scheduling a VA audiology examination. The Veteran must be provided another opportunity to report for such an examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions did not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination as there is insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has readjudicated the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and relevant evidence that was not previously considered. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no causal relationship between the Veteran's active military service and his current bilateral hearing loss.,The claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted based on the Veteran's credible report of its onset within a year of separation from service, consistent with high noise exposure during military service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to reconsider the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's testimony provides new information about his military noise exposure, which may prove an element of each claim.

The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities since March 1, 2014. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met from this date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an advisory opinion from an independent medical expert to assess the Veteran's ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU as his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms met the criteria associated with a 70 percent disability rating, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The application to reopen the claim of service connection for back disability was denied, and the Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the percentage requirements.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, but his otitis media and hearing loss are denied.,The Board has remanded the claim for residuals of bilateral mastoidectomies with residual right ear hearing loss (claimed as bilateral hearing loss) due to insufficient information in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure.,His decreased facial sensation is presumed to be associated with his service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his exposure to hazardous noise during active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are found to be related to military service. The decision also grants secondary service connection for tinnitus as a result of the Veteran's now service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link to active service.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of May 25, 2011. The claims for tobacco use disorder, left foot disability, right foot disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability were all denied as not related to service or due to other pre-existing conditions.,The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea was denied. The claim for residuals of a left forearm scar was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The decision also remanded the issue of increased rating for PTSD.