Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for award of a schedular TDIU, but the weight of the competent, probative evidence indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service exposure to noise trauma. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a personal hearing at the RO in Little Rock, Arkansas. The issues of service connection for various conditions are under consideration.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety disorder, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus disability, back disability with sciatica, numbness of the right lower extremity, ruptured disc, residuals of a neck injury, and left arm and shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent or credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran suffered from these conditions during his active service and continues to suffer from them, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during service and denied his claims for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of chronic symptoms during service.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and shell fragment wound scars do not make him unable to care for his daily needs without regular aid and assistance from another person, thus the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his service, as there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset during service, with current evidence showing a continuity of symptoms. Therefore, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to afford the Veteran a hearing, and the case is now pending before the Board for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his Navy Reserve records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current lung disorder. The issues on appeal are related to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and lung disorder due to asbestosis exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating under VA's disability evaluation criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his active service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are service-connected, but the Board found that neither condition alone or in combination precludes him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The claim for an extra-schedular rating for tinnitus was denied as there were no exceptional factors present to warrant such a rating. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, circulatory problems (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II), right ear hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss disability, and hypertension (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II).