Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during his military service and is caused by noise exposure, thus service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability in either ear as defined by VA regulations, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. For tinnitus, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to lack of continuity of symptoms or nexus.

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

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder (flat warts), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is also granted.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the appellant's tinnitus had its onset during his active service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the legal criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability as his combined percentage of disability does not reach 70% or more, and he is still employed.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the evidence shows it is at least as likely as not that these conditions developed during active duty.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is REMANDED for a supplemental opinion or VA examination as specified.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are considered in combination, and the VA audiologist opines that they preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his high school education and occupational experience as an electrician and Alaska pipeline worker.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus due to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a current disability during service or within the applicable presumptive period. The VA examiners have provided opinions based on the lack of documentation of complaints or treatment for these conditions while on active duty.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities. A VA examination will be conducted to assess whether he is unemployable due to PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with the effective date being February 17, 2011. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus in December 2010, citing the absence of any reference to tinnitus in service treatment records and a post-service VA examination report. The Veteran's first mention of tinnitus was in his July 2007 claim, nearly 40 years after discharge from service.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital on June 6, 2009 is denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency services and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during active service. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for perforated tympanic membrane, but the claim for dental disorder (upper right molar) is without legal merit. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and hearing loss, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support these findings. The claim for service connection for vertigo was also granted.