Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the current examination did not adequately consider his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's left knee disability is due to his service-connected bilateral foot disability. The claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the absence of proper notice for a requested hearing, and he would like to be scheduled for a videoconference hearing at the RO in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that a new VA audiological examination is necessary to fully address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further examination and consideration due to incomplete records and the need for an opinion regarding his employability.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus began in active service and granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes since he filed his claim in July 2011, so service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and asbestosis have been granted service connection, with the Board finding that both conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss is at least in equipoise with his in-service noise exposure and subsequent diagnoses. The claim for tinnitus remains pending as a separate issue.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to noise exposure during his military service, and the claims for these conditions are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a vocational examination and re-adjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on his combined rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a TDIU prior to April 10, 2010 are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss in his right ear for VA purposes and denied service connection for tinnitus as there is no medical evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be related to his military service. The Board granted service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have been incurred in service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.