Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied them on the merits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to in-service noise exposure. The disability will be effective from the date of receipt of the petition to reopen.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. The Board finds that the Veteran had noise exposure during service which likely contributed to his current condition.,Service connection for a bilateral leg and foot disability (presumed to be a skin disability) is granted as it is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, although there is no evidence of such exposure based on the provided information. Service connection for diabetes mellitus and spine disability are not established by the evidence presented.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted as the Veteran has this condition and service treatment records show he was treated for thrombophlebitis during service, which may be related to his current condition.,Service connection for a spine disability is denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that any increase in severity of the preexisting spine disability occurred due to natural progression.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and has not been decided. The issues of service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus are on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic kidney disability, jaundice, or a scar over the right eyebrow during service or within one year post-service. As such, these conditions are not presumed to have been incurred in service and cannot be granted on a direct basis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to noise exposure during his active duty service, and the Board finds that service connection for tinnitus has been met.

The Board has found that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus are found to be related to service, with the benefit of doubt given in favor of the Veteran. The acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as direct service connection, while tinnitus is also granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records, particularly those dated prior to October 2003. The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and diabetes mellitus type II are pending.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain the Veteran's November 2004 audiological testing and will consider whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability have been dismissed as there are no remaining allegations of error in the determination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to active service, with the Veteran's tinnitus being shown to have been incurred during active service with continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with current evidence of in-service noise exposure. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has directed that the Veteran undergo additional VA examinations and review of his claims file to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, burn scars, psychiatric disorders, and lung disorder. The case is REMANDED for these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his service, as there was no indication of tinnitus in the service treatment records and it began more than 20 years after separation from service.