Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back disability were denied. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches was remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain his complete service treatment records, verify any service in the Republic of Vietnam, and schedule appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is attributed to exposure to acoustic trauma during his active service.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's De Quervain's disease of the right wrist manifested during active military service and is therefore granted service connection. However, there is no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus to support service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities did not manifest as a result of noise exposure during his active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in the Army National Guard (ARNG), and thus denied service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's claim is supported by competent evidence of a current disability (tinnitus), medical evidence linking it to in-service acoustic trauma, and credible lay testimony. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun in service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including arthritis, left hand disorder, left ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, eye disorder, and right hand cyst, are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of cardiovascular disorder, low back disorder, and tinnitus. The Veteran's death certificate indicates he died in November 2009, and his surviving spouse was accepted as a substitute claimant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his active service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during his periods of Marine and Air Force service. As a result, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right hip, left hip, right knee scars, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The effective date is November 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral eye disorders and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. With full consideration of his educational background and occupational experience, the Board finds that the Veteran is precluded from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a headache disorder, claimed as secondary to tinnitus, is being remanded due to outstanding VA and private medical records needing to be obtained.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his period of active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, and his initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from July 19, 2010 to July 20, 2010 at The Nebraska Medical Center were not covered by VA as the treatment was not authorized in advance and did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.