Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for tinnitus due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran. However, the claim is denied as there is no established link between current tinnitus and military service.

The Board has remanded this case to the RO for issuance of a Statement of the Case as to all issues related to service connection and CUE, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and defective vision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss with nerve damage and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service, including during reserve duty. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of hearing loss or tinnitus until many years after discharge from service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to exposure to acoustic trauma in service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability because the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU before January 27, 2004 and there was no evidence that he was unemployable solely due to his right leg condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with his other disabilities, renders him unemployable due to the severity of his symptoms and inability to work in a competitive environment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The evidence submitted does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a cardiovascular condition, and blood clots. The right ankle disability claim was not addressed as it pertained to revision of an August 1989 rating decision on CUE in failing to adjudicate a right ankle disability claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to noise exposure during his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus. The VA examiner found that the current conditions are less likely than not due to military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with consideration given to the benefit of the doubt doctrine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a nexus to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of tinnitus, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss do not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation under Chapter 31 of Title 38 due to lack of an employment handicap.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability were denied as there is no legal basis to assign a rating in excess of the current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation is 60 percent, including a 50 percent rating for PTSD and 10 percent ratings for tinnitus, vertigo, and traumatic brain injury. The Veteran has post-service occupational experience as an electronics/fire alarm technician, driver, tour guide, and unpaid volunteer positions. His service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to noise exposure in service or his service-connected hearing loss, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his employability considering all of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes.