Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA audiological evaluation to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including as due to exposure to noise trauma therein.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential issues with audiometric testing records, as well as a need for an appropriate VA examination. The Veteran is presumed to have been in sound condition upon entry into service, but his current diagnoses of hearing loss and tinnitus may be related to his period of active duty.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically noise exposure during his National Guard service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service exposure to loud noises, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted. The lung disorder claim was not addressed as it does not involve a service connection issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, and/or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board hearing at the RO. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, including any in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his military service. The VA has requested additional medical opinions and the opportunity for the Veteran to provide any relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus was first noted during active duty service and has persisted since then. The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized private medical expenses incurred at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital on April 20, 2009 due to lack of emergency treatment and because VA was not feasibly available.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, but his right hip disorder is related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran is service-connected for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic otitis externa. The Board finds that his combined disability rating of 60% renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus that is related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 90%, which satisfies the percentage requirements for TDIU. However, his service-connected disabilities alone do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied as there is no current disability of hearing loss in either ear, and the evidence does not support a finding that his tinnitus was incurred during or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred during service, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The examiner concluded that the appellant's hearing loss was caused by his in-service noise exposure but denied service connection for tinnitus due to its onset occurring after service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, tinnitus, and a right leg disorder to comply with the Court's November 2010 decision. The AOJ must issue an SOC regarding the PTSD claim and provide proper VCAA notice on all issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found no evidence of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus in service, and the competent and credible evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred during active service. The Veteran's statements regarding the onset and continuity of his claimed disorders are deemed insufficient to trigger VA's duty to provide an examination.