Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since September 27, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any current tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a failure to schedule a travel board hearing. The Veteran is entitled to a fair and timely hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for tinnitus and coronary artery disease were denied as the earliest date of entitlement was July 16, 2003 and April 14, 2005 respectively.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dystrophic nails (claimed as brittle nails) and sleep apnea (due to herbicide exposure and/or secondary to coronary artery disease) were also denied.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Grandview Medical Center on October 24, 2009 for treatment of a scrotal abscess and tinea corporis are approved as the nearest VA facility was closed and not feasibly available.

The Veteran does not have tinnitus that is attributable to his active military service.

The Veteran's service records do not show any injury to the right knee during his military service. A cyst was found in October 2006, over a year after separation from active duty.,There is no indication of tinnitus in the Veteran's service records. The first mention of tinnitus is in February 1989 STRs.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his acoustic trauma in service.

The Board has determined that a VA audiological examination and opinion are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed hearing loss and tinnitus, as the current evidence is inadequate for decision-making.

The Veteran's tinnitus was caused by his active service, to include noise exposure therein. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that there is no competent, credible, or probative evidence establishing a medical nexus between the Veteran's tinnitus and his service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), as well as any associated service treatment records. The VA will also schedule examinations to assess the current status of his claimed conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, diabetes, and lower intestinal disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending as it relates to a separate issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and the collective evidence suggests that his service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.