Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during active duty service due to combat noise exposure, and therefore service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining post-May 2011 treatment records from the Memphis VA Medical Center and providing an appropriate VA examination for a TDIU claim. The Veteran's tinnitus claim will also be adjudicated.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset during active service and is not causally related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service.

The Veteran meets the percentage requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and the medical evidence indicates that these disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence of tinnitus during service and determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his military service, including exposure to noise. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal of the remaining issues, including diabetes mellitus type II due to Agent Orange Exposure, is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing issue and will schedule a Travel Board or video conference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal regarding increased ratings for left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

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

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, as well as scheduling a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his current hearing disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined service-connected disability rating did not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability prior to November 1, 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete records, including VA audiological examination results. The Veteran's hearing loss is currently considered ratable by VA standards, but further clarification on its etiology is needed.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss, as well as tinnitus. The Veteran did not have a current disability in these conditions at the time of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma and bronchitis, and a left foot and ankle disability were denied. However, the Board found in favor of the Veteran on his claim for a left foot and ankle disability as it is likely related to service. The other claims remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability and considering whether referral for an extraschedular TDIU is warranted.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's assertions about noise exposure in service were not supported by medical evidence, and there is no continuity of symptoms since separation from service.