Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine the etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and left arm disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current back or neck disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The effective date issue is also being addressed.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and his service-connected conditions preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and initial compensable ratings for shin splints are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore, denies the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus. The scars to his right lower extremity are attributed to willful misconduct and were not incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and the issue of service connection for a prolapsed uterus, status post hysterectomy with residuals of a bladder lift is remanded.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, which includes PTSD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety attacks, is rated at 50 percent. The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder), bilateral hearing loss, and leukemia were all granted. The claim for a higher initial rating for tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital from February 8, 2004, to February 20, 2004, due to lack of prior authorization and because the appellant had additional medical coverage in the form of Medicare.

The Veteran's GERD is caused by medication prescribed for his service-connected lumbar spine disability.,Service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted, with the cause being exposure to loud noise during active service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from hearing loss disability and whether any such disability is related to service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to improper reliance on medical opinion evidence that did not consider all of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be re-adjudicated after a VA examination by a psychiatrist.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU under VA regulations, and there is no evidence of unemployability due to his service-connected conditions alone. The Board finds that he is capable of engaging in light and sedentary activities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination addressing the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The bilateral hip and knee disorders were found not to be incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a result of his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.