Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to noise exposure during active service. However, there is no evidence of hearing loss in service or for many years thereafter, and it is not otherwise related to such service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and issues related to noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death before a decision could be made on the issues of service connection for various conditions and a rating for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and provide a new examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected as it was caused by in-service noise exposure. The lipoma claim is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for a VA ear disease examination and medical nexus opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, and his claims for increased ratings for PTSD were also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service noise exposure leading to current tinnitus, and there was no causal relationship between the Veteran's current PTSD symptoms and his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his service in Vietnam working in artillery, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes due to bilateral hearing loss, and thus denied service connection for this condition.,Service connection was also denied for tinnitus as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current tinnitus and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and he has service connection for tinnitus. The Board also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of his request to reopen a claim for service connection for a wrenched left knee. The denial was based on lack of evidence showing a nexus between current left knee disorder and service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on January 23, 2011, were not for a medical emergency of such nature that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to his health. VA facilities were feasibly available at the time and he did not seek preauthorization from VA.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since June 3, 2004. His tinnitus is service-connected and rated as secondary to his hypothyroidism. The Veteran's bronchitis is not compensable but warrants a rating of 100%. Other conditions are either not shown or do not warrant increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, tinnitus as a residual of TBI, and headaches with light sensitivity as a residual of TBI. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his in-service head injuries.

The Board has decided that the VA audiology examination is inadequate and requires a new opinion on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and tinnitus, which arose from combat action in Vietnam, meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as of January 14, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The VA examiner opined that the current hearing loss was less likely than not related to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and anxiety disorder.