Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The most probative evidence of record does not demonstrate that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, and denied both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder are all granted. The Veteran does not have ratable hearing loss but his hearing has worsened more than 10 dB from his entrance to his exit physical at least at one of the ratable frequencies.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent disability rating for GERD, effective from the day after service discharge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private audiology records and clarifying whether the Veteran receives Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits based on his bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional evidence is obtained.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not related to his service, including noise exposure. The evidence did not show a continuity of symptoms since service or any other basis for establishing service connection.

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

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and personnel records. The VA will then review the claims and provide a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased evaluations and effective dates for various service-connected disabilities, including cancer of the larynx and its residuals. The case is being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and postoperative residuals of a right parotid gland tumor are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or clinical onset during service. The Veteran's income exceeds the maximum annual pension limit, thus he is not entitled to nonservice-connected disability pension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not support a compensable rating or an increased rating beyond 10 percent. The service-connected low back disorder is found to be service connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus became manifest in service and has persisted, warranting service connection. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service. The Veteran's reports of symptoms in service are considered, but a new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been withdrawn. The appeal for an increased evaluation of PTSD has been remanded due to the need for a statement of the case.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and dismissed the remaining issues of bilateral hearing loss, residuals of cancer of the cervix, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the absence of service treatment records, the need for a new medical opinion based on current clinical examination and history, and the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.