Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination and consideration of additional service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to outstanding medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are attributable to service, specifically his Reserve duty. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his active service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right ear hearing loss disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow the VA to develop and adjudicate a new claim for service connection of coronary artery disease, which may impact their aid and attendance claim.

The Board found no evidence of a current neck condition, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus related to service.,VA determined that the Veteran's claims for these conditions were not supported by competent and credible evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to January 9, 2005 for a 10% disability rating for tinnitus and for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date of the award for tinnitus was fixed at January 9, 2005, based on liberalizing changes in VA regulations. For hearing loss, there is no assigned rating or effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, as there is no evidence of any complaints or diagnoses during service and no indication of a continuity of symptomatology. The preponderance of the evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of service connection for liver disease, left eye blindness, left ankle injury, PTSD, left leg and knee injury, right ankle injury, colon cancer, tinnitus, and prostate problems.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran currently has tinnitus, which he contends is due to in-service noise exposure during combat operations. Applying the benefit of doubt doctrine, the Board finds that his current tinnitus is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarifying medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and stomach condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current tinnitus and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration of TDIU entitlement due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset during active service. Service connection was denied for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and further development is needed.

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 appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination and opinion to clarify the nature and etiology of his tinnitus, which he claims is related to service. The current evidence does not clearly establish whether his tinnitus is due to noise exposure in service or post-service employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while disabling, do not render him unemployable due to their combined effects. The nonservice-connected conditions have a more significant impact on his employability.