Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the inextricability of the pending increased rating and service connection claims. The RO/AMC will adjudicate these claims before considering the TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered alone and in combination with his non-service connected conditions, do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service. His hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.,His burn scar of the right thigh is manifested by pain on examination, warranting a 10% rating effective October 23, 2008. He has radiculopathy of the left lower extremity with mild incomplete paralysis and associated symptoms. His coronary artery disease is stable but not productive of specific complications.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding TDIU.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted a 30 percent rating for major depressive disorder. The left knee disability is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his military service and continues to this day, finding credible his reports of noise exposure in service. The medical evidence supports a link between service and the current condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine his eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, while the initial rating claims for supraventricular tachycardia with arrhythmia and sinusitis were not addressed in this decision.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and therefore grants the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and chronic mastoiditis were not noted on entrance into military service. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination and medical opinion regarding the pre-existence of these conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a pulmonary disorder and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his active service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and major depressive disorder were denied as there is no credible evidence of a direct relationship to service. The rating for eczema of the feet remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a need for additional evidentiary development and adjudication, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

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 chronic symptoms within one year post-service. The VA examiners found no link between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his eligibility for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension and a TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for an increased rating, and determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ankle disorders have been denied. The claim for service connection for the lumbar spine disorder has not been adjudicated as it is not part of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to unclear Air Force Reserves service and need for an addendum medical opinion.