Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded to the AOJ for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely due to noise exposure during his active duty, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board then determined that these conditions were incurred during active service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective prior to August 8, 2011. He also meets the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss ratings, but granted a 40 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss with an effective date of September 23, 2002.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while impairing his ability to work, do not render him unemployable as a whole. The combined rating of 70% does not meet the threshold requirement for TDIU under section 4.16(a).

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for tinnitus, but not for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back disability. The claims for increased ratings for left shoulder DJD are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and low back disability. The claim will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and degenerative joint disease (low back pain) are all service-connected. The decision is based on direct evidence of a link between each condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, depression, and asbestosis were denied because there is no current evidence of these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed condition at any time during his appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and perforation of the tympanic membrane of the left ear was denied as there is no legal basis for a schedular disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, malaria, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his service-connected tinnitus due to the maximum schedular rating already assigned. His claim for malaria was also denied as there are no residuals of the disease. For his bilateral hearing loss, the Board has not yet reviewed this issue on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service, including in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence did not support a connection to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are currently service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his combat service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board finds additional development necessary for the remaining issues as the Veteran reported worsening of these conditions since the last VA compensation examinations.