Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, thus the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and the evidence is at least in relative equipoise concerning whether these disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining employment that could be considered substantially gainful versus just marginal in comparison.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, as there is no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus. The claims were denied.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's left wrist disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The lumbar strain was rated as 10% prior to May 28, 2008, and as 20% thereafter.

The Veteran's labyrinthitis was found to have its clinical onset during service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as panic attacks and PTSD), left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, low back disorder, or neck disorder.

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

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that it is likely attributable to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and gastrointestinal disorders are not related to his military service or any service-connected disability, leading to a denial of both claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left tibia fracture residuals was granted, with a current evaluation of 20 percent. The issues regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, and his PTSD warrants a 10 percent disability rating. The effective date for these determinations has not been established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service exposure to aircraft noise, and his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy with cramping is presumed due to herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are granted.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus should be May 2, 2008. The Veteran submitted an informal claim on this date and a formal claim was received by VA within one year.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to service or his service-connected headache disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of an unadjudicated claim filed earlier than May 10, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder was aggravated by service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. However, tinnitus was not found to be related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination and a need for further medical evaluation of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of lumbosacral degenerative disease remains pending due to a lack of sufficient evidence regarding its onset during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing. The service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and heart disorder remain pending.