Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the VA audiologist's opinion is not adequate for the Board to rely upon in this case due to incomplete reasoning and reliance on unreliable evidence. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, but further development is needed to determine if there was noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and chronic tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination by an ENT specialist.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and development due to incomplete audiometric testing.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or any other causative factor. The current conditions were determined to be unrelated to his time in the National Guard.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not attributable to his active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the schedular evaluations were adequate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to grant service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before deciding the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The case is REMANDED to obtain all service treatment records for any additional periods of service with the Reserves, verify these periods, and obtain a VA opinion regarding the etiology of the appellant's current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and expert opinion to address the etiology of any tinnitus or hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to the increase in his bilateral hearing loss rating to 100 percent, which renders his service-connected disabilities sufficient for a total disability rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the Board grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a right shoulder disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus were denied.,Service connection was not granted for either condition as the evidence did not support a finding that the conditions began during or were caused by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is due to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right wrist disorder, and back disorder due to new evidence submitted since the October 2006 rating decision. The claims for right wrist disorder and back disorder remain denied as they do not meet the criteria for reopening.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his PTSD. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on the combined rating of 60% for these conditions.