Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and ensuring all necessary evidence is obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and his request for an increased rating for tinnitus. The Veteran was already assigned the maximum schedular benefit allowed by law for his tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in active military service and granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is pending as it relates to a separate appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right shoulder disorder are granted as service connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is not shown to be due to a disease or injury in service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The criteria for service connection have been met, with the exception of a specific effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not, singly or in combination, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left leg cellulitis, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and his other claims were based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, mixed deafness of the right ear, and bilateral chronic otitis media with chronic mastoiditis were denied as there is no legal basis for a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for each condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ear pain, including as secondary to tinnitus is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun in service and is granted service connection. The left foot, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities are not currently supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a rating of 30 percent, effective October 9, 2007. The initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun in service and is granted service connection. The left foot, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities are not currently supported by the evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence received does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating them.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from keeping himself clean, attending to his needs, or avoiding daily hazards without assistance. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete development, specifically addressing whether his current conditions are related to in-service infections and high fevers.