Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports a relationship between these conditions and in-service noise exposure. The claim is granted as both conditions are found to be related to active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches as service connection was decided on the merits.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and a TDIU rating of 60% has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete compliance with a previous remand directive.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not presented such an exceptional or unusual disability picture with such related factors as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards. Therefore, referral for extraschedular consideration is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have any service-connected disabilities, and therefore, her claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and determine the current severity of his service-connected Meniere's disease with vertigo and tinnitus, as well as whether he is unemployable due to these disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran does not have a current disability due to carbon monoxide exposure, dystonic reaction secondary to medication, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin cancer of the lip and breast, or chronic fatigue syndrome (claimed as fibromyalgia or chronic pain).,There is no evidence linking any claimed conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, headaches, polycystic ovary syndrome, right knee disability, and right hip disability are all granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service and have therefore denied all claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 23, 2010 for the grants of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and tinnitus are denied. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability is pending as VA treatment records are needed. The claim for increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder is pending as VA treatment records are needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The initial, compensable rating claim for residuals of malignant melanoma is pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's TDIU claim for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and employment information. The case will be reviewed again based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Munroe Regional Hospital on December 15, 2012 were denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency care under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to address whether tinnitus is related to service or other factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or bilateral tinnitus disability that is etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so severe that they preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since August 15, 2003.