Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of shrapnel wound residuals of the stomach, and denied service connection for hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing an injury or disease in service. Service connection was also denied for tinnitus as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for a supplemental opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cold injury to both lower extremities, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, the Board finds that his appeal for TDIU must be granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical and lumbar spine disorders are granted. The Board also dismissed the appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for crush injuries of the third and fourth fingers of the right hand.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided. The Veteran will need to provide more information about his exposure history and any relevant medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with consideration given to in-service noise exposure. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active military service.,Service connection was also granted for bipolar disorder with depression. The Board found that hypertension is not related to the Veteran's service or any other condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for a TDIU have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not originate in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain and consider private audiology reports, as well as updated VA records. The Veteran's service information supports his reports of exposure to excessive noise during both periods of active service. The examiner is asked to review the claims file and provide opinions regarding whether hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred or increased in severity during service.

The Board has determined that the March 2009 VA examination is inadequate and requires additional development, including obtaining clarification of the Veteran's National Guard service dates and providing an opinion regarding whether his hearing loss and tinnitus are related to periods of active duty or National Guard service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), but with the condition being presumed to have existed prior to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not begin in service and is not related to any incident of military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus as the evidence did not show a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another/housebound is being remanded due to unclear factual entitlement, including whether any single service-connected disability renders him unemployable or if he qualifies for SMC based on a need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The claims are now pending before the Board.

The Board is remanding the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has lost use of either lower extremity, and whether any bilateral knee, hip, or low back disabilities are proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected lower extremity disabilities. The appeal will be returned to the Board after these determinations.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions. The VA will conduct further examinations and provide a complete rationale for the etiology of these conditions.