Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and need for clarification of the appellant's representative. The VA will provide a supplemental statement of the case after considering the June 2011 private medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the VLJ who conducted his Travel Board hearing no longer working at the Board. He will be given a new opportunity to provide testimony before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records, including those from the Loma Linda VA Medical Center and any other relevant VA facilities. The case will be adjudicated again after this information has been obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further medical opinion and development to determine his eligibility for a total disability evaluation based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, thus granting these claims.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus in service, and the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no nexus to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable rating, and service connection for major depressive disorder has been granted. The right knee replacement disability requires a contemporaneous VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are not severe enough to prevent him from securing or following any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus in the right ear did not manifest during service and is not related to his military service. Onychomycosis was granted as aggravated by service, with preexisting onychomycosis being aggravated by active duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to service, and the Board finds that service connection for tinnitus is warranted. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or other causative factors.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to his active duty service and denied the claim. The tinnitus issue remains pending as it was not addressed in the July 2009 VA examination report.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and employment background, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus with associated peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, result in a combined 80 percent evaluation and preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The claim for hypertension is reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues, and no new evidence or decisions are provided.