Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding when he stopped working and the need for further information on his income during the years at issue. The TDIU claim remains pending as it is intertwined with other claims for increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his right ear hearing loss disability is not related to service. The tinnitus was incurred during peacetime service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 25, 2011, for the award of service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, and sleep apnea have been dismissed as he withdrew these claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, PTSD, neuropathy, tinnitus, and secondary service-connected IHD have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are caused by in-service noise exposure, warranting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not otherwise related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional records and provide a new VA audiology examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims of higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence in the service medical records to support a finding of hearing loss or tinnitus during service. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for further development, including obtaining his service personnel records and any relevant post-service VA or non-VA clinical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and HPV due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or a link between her military service and these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and residuals of a broken nose, but these claims are remanded for additional development as requested.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been rated at the maximum 10 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6260, and there is no legal basis for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing due to the appellant's failure to appear for previous hearings and his incarceration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and the evidence demonstrates that he is as likely as not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, pulmonary tuberculosis with reactive airway disease, impaired range of motion associated with post-thoracotomy pain syndrome, and tinnitus) precluded him from maintaining gainful employment prior to November 20, 2013. As a result, the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's continuous symptomatology since service is sufficient to establish a link between his in-service noise exposure and current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.,Service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor.