Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not incurred in or aggravated by service, while his right ear hearing loss disability is less likely than not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case will also be reviewed to consider whether he qualifies for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disorders on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to determine if the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service or due to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not render him unemployable prior to July 15, 2008. The Board found that the evidence does not indicate he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum from the VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are inextricably intertwined, so they must be deferred until the hearing loss issue is resolved.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of an OSHA-defined threshold shift during service. The examiner opined that it is less likely as not that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral shoulder disability, migraine headaches, CNS disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and skin disability (melanoma), have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that new evidence was submitted, but the conditions are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is caused by his active service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to his military service. The rating for the Veteran's service-connected tinea pedis with calluses will also be remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left wrist degenerative joint disease are all found to be related to service. The appeal is granted in full.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The case will be reviewed again after obtaining new medical opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have onset during service and was not caused by an injury or disease during active service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied because the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability in service and there is no credible evidence that his tinnitus began during service or is related to service. ,Service connection for iritis is denied due to lack of post-service diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions and potential exposure to acoustic trauma during combat service. The Veteran's tinnitus will be evaluated by a VA examiner who must consider his statements regarding noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to noise exposure during active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.