Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have tinnitus due to any incident of his active duty service and therefore, denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cold injury residuals of the right hand, left hand, and left foot, as well as tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension at the housebound rate is denied as he does not have a single permanent disability rated 100 percent disabling under the Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetic neuropathy of both lower extremities is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for this evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that would support her claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying service dates. The appellant's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered after these steps.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus began during active duty and has persisted since then, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and the Board finds that it is related to his military noise exposure. As such, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are likely related to his period of active service, and the Board has granted service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were of such severity that they precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to June 29, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to his military service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal to receive special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation as of December 13, 2000, the date his back disability met the criteria for a 40 percent rating. The effective date is set at December 13, 2000.

The claims of service connection for otitis media, tinnitus secondary to otitis media, and vertigo secondary to otitis media are being remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to a failure to obtain Army Reserve medical records from 1970-1973. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between current symptoms and service.