Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran is granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision is based on the evidence of record without a VA examination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, determine the Veteran's current level of hearing loss disability, assess whether his tinnitus and vertigo are related to service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and provide an appropriate examination for these issues. The case will be returned to the Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further action.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service and concluded that the current conditions are not related to military service. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board has referred the claim to the RO for development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO due to his request.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred during non-VA ambulance transport from a private hospital to the Omaha VAMC were denied as he did not meet the criteria for travel eligibility, including having a service-connected rating of 30 percent or more.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate consideration of evidence and potential relevance to the claims.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spinal disability is rated at 40 percent since April 2, 2008. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination by a VA ENT physician to determine if tinnitus is related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to additional development being required, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding his left shoulder injury, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and residuals of an injury to the right ear drum.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and he is therefore entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been presented. The Board then determined that both conditions are related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection is not clear and convincing evidence, as required by the new PTSD regulations. The case is therefore REMANDED to obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct a psychiatric examination, and provide an opinion on the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder(s).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service records and need for further development, including verification of dates of active duty and National Guard service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus disability is related to his active service, and therefore service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. A VA audiology examination will be scheduled to determine if the current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to active duty service and the claim for this condition is granted. The Board finds that a grant of service connection for tinnitus, cervical spine disorder (DDD of the cervical spine), and left knee disorder (claimed as left knee patellar tendonitis and Osgood-Schlatter's disease) is warranted based on service incurrence.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are service-connected disabilities, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The case is being remanded to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including obtaining relevant service treatment records and VA medical records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA audiometric examination to address these issues.

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