Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. Service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist regarding the onset and relationship of his tinnitus to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are directly related to his military service, including exposure to noise. The decision is in favor of granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's combined rating of 70 percent for his service-connected disabilities meets the criteria for a TDIU, as he is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues except Parkinson's disease, hypertension, depression, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, respiratory disorder/breathing disorder, vertigo, double vision, and sleep disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records and the need to obtain additional VA medical records. The Board will also request an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury/information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have been incurred in service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and Eustachian tube dysfunction. The claims were originally denied due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred in service. However, new evidence received since April 1986 supports this claim.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in December 2009 is inadequate and remands the case for a new addendum opinion to address the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chondromalacia, left patella with limited extension was granted. He is currently rated at 30 percent effective January 4, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and bilateral tinnitus. The Veteran's initial rating claim for bilateral hearing loss in excess of 10 percent is now resolved by the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's DDD of C5-C6 is rated at 20 percent, effective December 28, 2008. Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities, meet the minimum schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The claim for tinnitus is granted as it had its onset during active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance or is housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.