Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for tinnitus/vertigo, chest pains, headaches, and possibly neck pain. The other conditions have not met this standard.,For bilateral hearing loss, no new and material evidence was found. For left knee, leg, and ankle disabilities, no new and material evidence was found either.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA compensation examination. The examination will assess whether these conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to noise.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and awarded a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability. The Veteran's initial claim of entitlement to an increased rating for his right knee disability is also granted.

The Veteran's current tinnitus disability is found to be related to his initial period of active duty service from 1972 to 1979, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while his hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

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.

The Veteran's appendectomy scar is rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for a superficial scar with pain. The appeal regarding service connection and tinnitus remains pending as 'unknown', while the claim for a compensable rating for the appendectomy scar has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of mumps with atrophic left testicle and chronic epididymitis, tinnitus, and reimbursement/payment for private medical services are denied. The Veteran is currently assigned a noncompensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic venous insufficiency of the bilateral lower extremities and associated depression with anxiety, render him unemployable.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for tinnitus and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted by the Veteran raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Veteran's continuous symptomatology since service is considered in determining his entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected chronic inflammation of the chest (diagnosed as pulmonary fibrosis) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting a new VA examination.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and his initial 10 percent rating for tinnitus are denied as there is no legal basis to award a higher schedular disability rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is denied, as are the claims for initial compensable evaluations for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess his hearing loss and skin disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and the Board has granted service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of SSA records.

The Board has determined that further development of the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is warranted, including obtaining a VA examination and coordinating efforts to accommodate the Veteran if he remains incarcerated. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination to address the relationship between his hearing loss and tinnitus and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of his claims file.