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 appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate examination, incomplete medical records, and the need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bullet lodged in the buttocks, leg pain due to a bullet lodged in the buttocks, gunshot wounds of the right thigh and leg, scarring of the right hip and thigh, residuals of a low back injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied. The evidence does not show any such conditions were present during service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's death was caused by gastric cancer, which may be related to service exposure. The appellant seeks recognition of her son as a helpless child and pension benefits due to the Veteran's death. The case is being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions and SSA records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 1, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is being REMANDED.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the presence and etiology of tinnitus, and consideration of extraschedular ratings for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied the remaining issues of service connection. The Veteran is now service connected for a mood disorder, but not for chloracne, psoriasis, IBS, hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, or residuals of frostbite.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons or bases for denying service connection for tinnitus, including as secondary to bipolar disorder. The Veteran's psychiatric medications, specifically lithium, are being considered in relation to this claim.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, right shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability are being remanded due to the Veteran not appearing for scheduled VA examinations. The AOJ must verify that notice was sent to the correct address and reschedule the appellant for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as verifying herbicide exposure in Korea. The appeal is being returned to the AOJ for compliance with these directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral eye disability are service-connected, but his claims for other disabilities remain denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected based on in-service noise exposure and current bilateral tinnitus. The Board finds the evidence to be in equipoise regarding whether his acquired psychiatric disability, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right foot disability are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the earliest possible effective date provided by law is February 25, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, but his bilateral hearing loss is not. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus.