Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been denied. The Board also found that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but as the appeal is not about service connection at all, it remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a zero percent rating. The Veteran's hypertension is not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus need further development due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and readjudication of the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's scars on the right and left cheek due to his service-connected skin cancer manifest in two characteristics of disfigurement, warranting a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected skin cancer.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim can be adjudicated, including a VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal on all issues, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and migraine headaches.

The VA denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that could support a grant of benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that a VA audiological examination is necessary to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any hearing loss and/or tinnitus found to be present. The appellant's entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and chronic headaches, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board is reopening the claims for service connection for an eye disability and headaches on the basis of new and material evidence, but then remanding them to the RO for further development.,For tinnitus, the Veteran's claim has been granted as his tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for weakness and dizziness has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder is pending, but there is no current diagnosis of a gastrointestinal disability in the record. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) remains pending. Tinnitus was not diagnosed in the record. The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability is also pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rate of SMC on the basis of the need for aid and attendance of another person for purposes of accrued benefits, finding that evidence in VA's possession at the time of the Veteran's death was insufficient to establish a factual need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80%, which meets the schedular criteria for a total disability rating. However, he is not rendered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities alone, as his back problems are also significant and limit his employment opportunities.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions.,For the claim of service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy, the Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if the condition is related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability is addressed in the Remand that follows. The Veteran's tinnitus does not warrant a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, effective October 16, 2007. The Veteran's initial claim was denied in May 1971 but reopened on October 16, 2007, with the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by military service, did not manifest within one year of service, and are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected deviated septum.