Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service connected disabilities are rated at a combined 90 percent and render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

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

The case is being remanded for additional examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral otitis media, and bilateral perforated membranes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The claims are not ready for appellate review.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection and an effective date of October 10, 2007. The claim for a higher rating for his low back disability remains in appellate status as the RO awarded him a 20% rating effective October 10, 2007. The TDIU claim is also under consideration.

The Board has found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss. The issues of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred in December 2008 and January 2009 is denied as VA did not provide prior authorization for the treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for hypertension were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between the current disabilities and active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy (bilateral upper extremities), as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and due to herbicide exposure. The decision found no current disabilities involving these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, specifically the significant noise exposure during his military career as a Morse System Operator. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for tinnitus and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine were dismissed as his timely notice of disagreement with these effective dates was not filed within one year of notification.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 based on VA treatment received in December 2001 are denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing that the disabilities were caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of the VA.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, but his right ear hearing loss and tuberculosis are not. The case must be remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and medical opinions regarding the current status of his left ear hearing loss, knee disabilities, and asthma.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension began in service and has been continuously present since then. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, was initially demonstrated many years after service and is not shown to be causally related to his active service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and osteoarthritis of the left thumb are not shown to be causally related to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to in-service noise exposure. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the nature of his noise exposure during service and whether it resulted in current disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and VA treatment records.