Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The appeal will be certified back to the Board only if the appeal is perfected by filing a timely substantive appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been manifested by nightmares, sleep disturbances, irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, anger, and anxiety. The Board finds that the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, and thus these claims are granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for hearing loss based on aggravation and tinnitus. The Veteran's contentions are considered cumulative or redundant, and do not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinion regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current condition. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because he does not have a ratable disability. However, his tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not adequately address the relationship between the Veteran's in-service acoustic trauma and his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal is REMANDED to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete evidence. The Veteran's tinnitus claim requires a new examination, as does his headache disability claim.

The Veteran's ankylosing spondylitis and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected. The tinnitus claim is pending as it may be related to service.

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

The Board has reopened service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the Veteran provided new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent evaluation is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VCAA notice.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure. The claims for low back disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus need further examination and evaluation. The case is being remanded to provide these services.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis, a respiratory disorder (including exposure to asbestos and herbicides), and an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD with secondary depressive disorder. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.