Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of bilateral hearing loss, foot pain, chest pain, and a disability characterized as pain of bones, joints, and muscles has been withdrawn. The Board finds that tinnitus is etiologically related to her period of active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not begin during service and was not caused by military noise exposure, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to noise from aircraft, auxiliary power units, and other equipment during active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or other service connection factors.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these matters.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus was caused by his active service, to include noise exposure therein. Therefore, the criteria for service connection for tinnitus have been met.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disorder, and residuals of lacerations to the left index and ring fingers. The scar above the Veteran's left eye was noted during his military enlistment but did not permanently worsen during or as a result of his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as any psychiatric disorder. The case will be reviewed by the RO/AMC after this development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities are granted. The claim for PTSD is granted with an initial rating of 70 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and frequent persistent symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing on his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The tinnitus claim is inextricably intertwined with the hearing loss claim and must be considered together.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset during service, specifically combat service in Vietnam. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted. The appeal of the hearing loss issue is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal prior to a decision.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for a right ear disability other than tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 60 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, and his tinnitus is granted at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia with PTSD contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. As a result, the DIC claim is moot.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided. The case is being remanded to obtain a supplemental opinion from an appropriate examiner regarding whether the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death from pneumonia and heart disease. The claim for DIC benefits is denied.