Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional examination to determine if he has a current disability and whether it is related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, but denied the claim on the merits. The evidence does not establish a nexus between the current tinnitus and service.

The Veteran is in need of care or assistance on a regular basis to protect him from the health hazards and dangers of daily living, including misunderstanding prescription medication instructions and other medical instruction. The Veteran also requires care or assistance on a regular basis to assist him with meal preparation; dressing; bathing; performing household chores; and using the toilet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, with presbycusis superimposed in some cases. As such, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, disequilibrium, deafness, and tinnitus have been partially granted. Service connection was denied for headaches and disequilibrium but granted for deafness and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that service connection is not granted for tinnitus and right elbow pain due to lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee scar are service-connected, but no other disability related to the left knee is found.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a cervical spine disorder, and a right upper extremity disorder. The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's son, the Appellant, is seeking accrued benefits due to his father's death. The claim was initially denied because the Appellant did not meet the eligibility criteria for accrued benefits as he was over 18 years old at the time of his father's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the left knee disability claim, and that there was no evidence of a current low back or hearing loss disability. Tinnitus and PTSD were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims. The Veteran's claims of prostate cancer and hypertension are being remanded due to a lack of verification regarding herbicide exposure. His claim for depression is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his other service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, specifically the acoustic trauma he experienced during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was previously denied in June 1983 due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service. The Board is remanding the case for proper notice and development regarding reopening the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin disorder (claimed as due to Agent Orange exposure) was not addressed in the decision.,Service connection for hypertension was granted based on its secondary nature to PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is reasonably shown to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis. The issue of service connection for tinnitus remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his claims for hearing loss and a digestive disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.