Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his current hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been reopened, and both conditions are found to be related to his military service. The Veteran is granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his period of active service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cardiovascular disease is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected lung disorder. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that hearing loss and tinnitus are related to active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for tinnitus, with resolution of all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent, which the Veteran already receives.

The Board has granted service connection for epilepsy, but the issue of tinnitus remains under review due to inadequate examination report.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain relevant medical records and a new opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death. The appeal is currently in remand status.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected conditions is 60%, which does not meet the percentage requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). However, he was found to be unemployable due to non-service-connected factors (divorce and stress), and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service, are not related to service, and therefore denied service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and stomach problems were previously denied, but the evidence received since then includes relevant official service department records not previously considered. The claim for a hiatal hernia was previously denied due to lack of service treatment records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and stomach problems are now reopened.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip, status post-total hip arthroplasty, and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, bronchitis, and bilateral foot calluses. The decision found that while the Veteran was exposed to noise in service, his right ear hearing impairment did not meet VA compensation criteria. His left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were determined to be related to service exposure. Service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of a verified in-service stressor. No new evidence reopened any claims.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to exposure to acoustic trauma in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a clarifying medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records, as well as conducting VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.