Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not begin during his military service and is not related to any in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is linked to his time in the military.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The VA examiner found no link between the current hearing loss and tinnitus and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation from May 10, 2004 to July 4, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus and TDIU was denied as his service-connected conditions do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher evaluation is not available.,The Veteran did not incur bilateral hearing loss during or as a result of service. His lay assertions regarding continuity of symptomatology are not credible.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to TDIU and denied claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and coronary artery disease. The partial grant includes a compensable disability rating for a burn scar of the right thigh and initial increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and cannot be considered secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at his scheduled Travel Board hearing. The claim will be returned for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left carpal tunnel syndrome and a skin disorder of the left side of the face and scalp are granted as they are presumed due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection is granted for a disability of the right thumb and wrist, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, amblyopia, and deformed toes. The spleen rupture claim secondary to a service-connected skin lesion of the foot is also granted.,The effective date for the increased rating of 10 percent for the service-connected skin lesion of the plantar aspect of the left foot is set at January 12, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is attributable to noise exposure during his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and reopening of a previously denied claim were all denied as the current evaluations are deemed adequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss and a left hand disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria to establish current disabilities for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from October 6 to October 9, 2009 at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center were for emergency treatment due to a significant injury and could not be safely transferred to a VA facility until his condition stabilized on October 9, 2009.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner should consider the April 1978, February 1980, and October 1983 service audiological tests and discuss whether noise exposure in service caused or contributed to current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing before a member of the Board.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to excessive noise exposure during service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disability.