Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service exposure to noise trauma. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and requires additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since the date of his claim, effective March 2012.,The Veteran's CAD and diabetes mellitus are both rated at 60% prior to January 17, 2012, and thereafter at 30%. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20%, and tinnitus at 10%. Bilateral hearing loss has no compensable rating.,The Veteran was granted service connection for erectile dysfunction with SMC effective January 17, 2012. He also received service connection for sternotomy scar and coronary artery disease effective August 20, 2010.,Service connection is granted for B-cell Leukemia as due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). Service connection is denied for chlorance and soft tissue sarcoma.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including considering the timing of their onset and any in-service noise exposure. The Veteran will be provided with an examination to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and other procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions as new and material evidence was not provided to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be causally related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss, tinnitus, left leg neuritis, and bilateral hip arthritis claims are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, as his hearing was normal at service separation and there is no evidence of a nexus between current conditions and military noise exposure. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so disabling that he needs regular aid and attendance to dress, feed himself, and protect him from hazards in his daily environment. The Board finds the Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional medical examination and development of his claims, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling him for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, and residuals of hernia removal.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during her period of service and is granted service connection. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for a skin disability remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the back and neck, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and carpal tunnel syndrome are all related to his active military service. The evidence shows he was exposed to noise in service which led to his current hearing loss and tinnitus. His orthopedic conditions are also linked to his years of service due to repetitive motion injuries.

The VA Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during service or due to in-service noise exposure, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability is manifested by an exceptional pattern of hearing loss in the left ear resulting in a Roman Numeral VIII, while his right ear hearing loss resulted in a Roman Number IV at worst.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter, and is unrelated to service. The claim for entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinnitus was denied.

The Board has ordered a new VA medical examination to determine the etiology of any bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disorders, as the previous opinions were inadequate. The Veteran's service treatment records note left ear hearing loss at his pre-induction examination and induction examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.