Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TDIU due to service-connected disability. The RO must issue a Statement of the Case on these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus commenced during active military service following acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear sensorineural hearing loss and left ear sensorineural hearing loss were not manifested during his active military service, are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, and is not shown to have manifested within one year from the date of his separation from the military. The Board also found that the Veteran's current tinnitus was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for a mid and low back disorder including degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including an examination and consideration of whether the Veteran can secure or follow substantially gainful employment given his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD and tinnitus service connection have been granted, with the effective dates set at May 15, 2008 for PTSD and May 26, 2010 for tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disability related to service, and his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to service. The claim for type II diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his military service, specifically exposure to loud noise during active duty. As such, the Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during active duty service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be established.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as he had not been unemployable prior to September 7, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further development.

The Veteran's right hip disability, status-port total right hip arthroplasty is not service-connected. The combined rating for his service-connected disabilities (30% for bilateral pes planus, 10% each for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and 10% for post-traumatic arthritis of the right thumb) does not meet the percentage requirements for TDIU under section 4.16(a).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 60%, which does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his ability to perform sedentary employment.

The Veteran's appeal was partially withdrawn, and the remaining issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), tinnitus, and ear condition were remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board at the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.,An initial rating of 10 percent was assigned for the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.