Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of evidence. The issues are whether service connection should be granted for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has vacated the April 2011 decision denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and returned these matters to the Board for further proceedings. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a bilateral hearing loss disability or chronic fatigue syndrome, and his symptoms are manifestations of his service-connected systemic lupus erythematosus with Sjogren's syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his current hearing loss, tinnitus, right elbow injury and back injury with service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing medical records and a need for clarification on whether hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, including during service in Vietnam. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have tinnitus, and denied his claim for service connection. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board noted no evidence of a current disability but also did not find any indication that the Veteran's hearing loss began during or was caused by his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for right shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthrosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that it is related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure. The issue of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as his combined disability evaluation is 60 percent, which does not meet the minimum percentage requirements. The RO/AMC must refer the Veteran's TDIU claim to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for consideration of assignment of an extra-schedular evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are currently pending as the VA has not yet provided a VA examination to address these conditions, nor have they been evaluated based on their merits.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board found that the Veteran's current tinnitus did not have onset in service and was not caused by or related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient evidence to decide the claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person, or at the housebound rate.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to service, with the presumption of soundness on induction for hearing loss. The claim for TDIU prior to April 6, 2010 is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between service and the condition.