Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic prostatitis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to noise during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure or current disability. Service connection was not granted for interstitial fibrosis as the claim is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to his military service. The increased evaluation for PTSD is granted, with a rating of 50 percent effective September 22, 2008. TDIU due to service-connected disability is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Multiple Sclerosis and Anxiety Disorder, are severe enough to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The decision grants a TDIU effective July 3, 2008.

The Board has granted the Veteran service connection for left knee strain and Meniere's syndrome with tinnitus, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found that diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred or aggravated in active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's contentions of ringing in his ears since service are credible and supported by a VA examiner's opinion. The hearing loss claim is remanded due to inadequate development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus were denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing a current disability related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the appellant's current condition was caused or aggravated during his period of active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and right leg peripheral neuropathy. The VA examiner found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no medical evidence showing a nexus between his current tinnitus and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed osteoarthritis of bilateral hands, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically his cannoneer duties in Korea where he was exposed to cold temperatures and acoustic trauma. As such, these conditions have been granted as being incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for initial higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent before November 17, 2008, and an initial rating higher than 20 percent from November 17, 2008.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are considered incurred in service, while his left hand disability is not. The claim for refractive error cannot be granted as a matter of law.

The Board found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was not incurred in service and denied his claim. His hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.