Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset during service and is not caused by an event, injury or disease during active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension are pending as there is no current evidence of record confirming their onset during or within one year after service. The Board will need to obtain updated medical records to determine if these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations in denying service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address audiometric findings, right foot disability, and service connection for residuals of a burn of the left arm. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Board denied service connection for low back pain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current level of bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria to qualify as a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU has been granted due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities, which meet the schedular threshold requirement.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is an approximate balance of evidence in regard to these conditions. The Veteran was exposed to noise during his active duty service, which he reported resulted in hearing problems since separation from service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service-connected due to exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam-era service. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses for PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, and COPD, which may be related to his period of active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain a clarifying opinion regarding the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence supports reopening of these previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to service, specifically exposure to hazardous noise during active duty. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and personnel records, as well as an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarifying medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as to ensure all relevant development actions have been conducted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no current evidence of these conditions meeting VA criteria. The Veteran also failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate reasons or bases regarding his lay statements, as well as the rejection of his claim that he was diagnosed with hearing loss during post-service employment physicals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is at least as likely as not caused by his military service, including sun exposure. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cold injury residuals of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied.

The Veteran's overall combined disability rating is 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is found to be caused by his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus was denied as the evidence did not warrant referral for extra-schedular consideration and he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular rating.