Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be remanded to allow for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a clarifying opinion from an examiner regarding the etiology of his tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for a Statement of the Case on whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for hearing loss. The tinnitus issue is held in abeyance until this matter is resolved.

The Board has determined that service connection for hypertension and tinnitus is granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The initial rating of 20% for diabetes mellitus remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding cellulitis of the left lower extremity and incomplete development on other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's tinnitus and back disability claims. The case will be reviewed again after additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine if he requires aid and attendance of another or is housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the merits of these issues material to the determination. The preponderance of the evidence suggests that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with substance abuse and alcoholism, tinnitus, left varicocele, scarring secondary to facial acne, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to May 1, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD, as well as his claim for TDIU were denied. The Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss or tinnitus that is service-connected. His PTSD was rated at 30% prior to November 17, 2011, but the Board found no evidence of a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes, but he is shown to have current tinnitus. The exposure to loud noise in service supports a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be causally related to noise exposure during active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus. The case must be remanded to obtain the Veteran's personnel records and a private medical record from Dr. Mark Frattali in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The Veteran seeks service connection for tinnitus, which he claims is related to noise exposure during military service. The Board finds that a remand is needed to obtain an additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with a diagnosis of tinnitus or are manifestations of his hearing loss disability and if so, whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted, with the Board finding that his tinnitus is related to military service.,Service connection was also granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, which he developed due to in-service noise exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disorder. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.