Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, combined for purposes of TDIU eligibility, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim prior to September 21, 2005. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The criteria for establishing service connection have been met, with both conditions found to be related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and therefore DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied.

The Board finds that the service-connected residuals of a right lower leg shrapnel wound contributed to the Veteran's death due to a fall and traumatic brain injury, which was found as an underlying cause of death.

The Board finds that the law, as written by Congress and implemented by VA regulation, has been correctly applied in this case. The recoupment of the overpayment of VA compensation in the amount of severance pay received ($32,551.20) by withholding in monthly allotments payments of disability compensation benefits is required by law.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure. The case is being returned for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to his noise exposure during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss disability, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are not related to service or his service-connected TBI. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service. The Veteran's STRs did not show any complaints, symptoms, or diagnoses of hearing loss or tinnitus during service. His separation examination also showed no signs of hearing loss. While he reported having hearing loss in 1991, the examiners found him to have normal hearing at that time.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining personnel records and private treatment records, scheduling VA examinations, and providing updated medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, NOS (now depressive disorder with symptoms of PTSD) and tinnitus, are found to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. As such, the Board grants his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran is service-connected with several conditions, including DDD of the lumbosacral spine. The care provided on September 10, 2011, was for an adjudicated service-connected disability and in a medical emergency where delay would have been hazardous to life or health. VA facilities were not feasibly available at the time.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and tinnitus) have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, arteriosclerotic heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity, are found to be sufficient to preclude him from engaging in gainful employment. As a result, TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his active service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.