Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to unclear evidence and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury and tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability and granted service connection for tinnitus. For the bilateral hip disability, the Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to current symptoms. For tinnitus, the Board found credible the Veteran's reports of noise exposure during service and continued symptomatology since then.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's testimony supports a finding of continuity of symptoms from his time in service and that his tinnitus began during active duty.

The Board has determined that there was a clear and unmistakable error in the March 1998 rating decision, which denied service connection for tinnitus. The effective date is set at October 1, 1994, as this is the day after the Veteran's separation from service.

The Veteran is granted effective dates of March 6, 2014 for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, IVDS, and radiculopathy associated with IVDS.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's testimony and submitted evidence. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and anxiety disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU application is granted.

The February 2016 rating decision did not address the issues raised in the November 2011 and February 2013 NODs, so past-due benefits for attorney representation are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined to a 90 percent rating between December 20, 2010 and December 30, 2014. Prior to December 30, 2014, the Veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus. An additional examination is needed to determine if his hearing condition, including tinnitus, is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin disorder due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran's claims are reopened as new and material evidence was received since the last final denial.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for tinnitus was denied as the effective date could not be earlier than June 2, 2007 due to the one-year waiting period after the liberalizing law change in 1999.

The Veteran's tinnitus and depression disorder are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for defective vision, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for PTSD effective October 27, 2003. Other claims remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and hypertension. The Veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus, which may be granted based on lay evidence of in-service noise exposure and continuous symptoms since service. For his cardiovascular disability claim, additional development is needed to determine if he was exposed to herbicides during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's exposure to hazardous noise during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current diagnosis of a disability. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports that it had its onset during service.

The Veteran's broken teeth or loss of teeth claim is granted, but service connection is denied. Hearing loss and tinnitus claims are also denied.