Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's initial claims for service connection were received by VA less than one year after he separated from active service, and the disabilities originated while he was serving on active duty. The effective date of the awards is set to October 1, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a supplemental medical opinion from the examiner who conducted his March 2012 VA audiometric examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is already rated at the maximum schedular rating (10%) and no higher rating can be assigned under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's tinnitus was due to his active service, but he did not file a claim for benefits until March 14, 2011. The effective date of the grant of service connection is therefore set at the date of receipt of the claim, which is March 14, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA examination to determine his eligibility for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a complete list of his post-service employment history.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and is related to his military noise exposure, thus granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to May 21, 2013 was granted due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The hearing loss disability remains noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as Reserve service records. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus is related to in-service loud noise exposure, and there is no continuity of symptoms since service. As such, the criteria for service connection are not met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, and status post mandibular fracture are reasonably shown to be of such nature and severity as to prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability, and therefore cannot grant service connection for this condition. The claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been established as service-connected. However, his right ear hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service, nor may their incurrence or aggravation be presumed. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are currently rated at the maximum available under VA regulations. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or significant threshold shifts. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals from ovarian cyst removal, service connection for tinnitus, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating effective from October 13, 2005 on an extraschedular basis due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request in June 2015.