Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, vision loss, hypertension, kidney/renal disorder, heart disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD). However, these claims are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and other development that may be needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is being reviewed, and a VA examination will be scheduled if necessary.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient efforts by the AOJ in obtaining the Veteran's service records. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the issues related to psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis remain pending as they were not discussed or addressed in the July 2013 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 25, 2018 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and service connection for hypertension have been remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 28, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus was denied. Service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea were both denied, and the appeal for TDIU is considered moot due to his current combined disability rating of 100 percent.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and has continued since his discharge. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted a schedular TDIU effective July 26, 2014.,However, the evidence indicates that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities may have prevented obtaining and/or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to this date. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU is therefore remanded for referral to the Director of the Compensation Service.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back and right shoulder conditions, are found to be sufficient to render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board also finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for Dependent's Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits as he did not have a permanent total service-connected disability at the time of his claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, and benign prostatic hypertrophy are remanded due to insufficient evidence on the merits of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested in service and is attributable to his military service, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, as the Veteran had continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination in determining their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained during active service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus contributed to his death from anaphylaxis due to insect stings. The Board found that the Veteran would not have approached the lilac bush if he could hear, thus attributing his death to his service-connected disabilities.