Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for a payment rate in excess of 60 percent for educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is denied as he did not have at least 18 months of active duty after September 10, 2001.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is associated with his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for further evidentiary development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination with a medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's reported hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are causally related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability, asbestosis, and acquired psychiatric disability remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military noise exposure. The claim for tinnitus was remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an updated VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguities and incomplete private records/opinions, requiring further development in attempt to clarify the Veteran's current diagnosis and etiology of hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and right shoulder disability is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has credible reports of in-service noise exposure and current symptoms, which are sufficient to establish a link between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was caused by his active service, to include noise exposure therein. The Board finds the Veteran's reports of tinnitus during service and continuity of symptomatology since service credible and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were previously denied in September 1996. The most recent denial was in November 2007, where the Board found no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.,The claim for service connection for dizziness (Meniere's disease with episodic dizziness) is also denied as there is no direct or secondary service connection established.

The Veteran's current tinnitus was not manifest in service or to a degree of 10 percent within one year of separation and is unrelated to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). The Veteran's claims are supported by credible evidence of in-service noise exposure and stressors. Service connection is also granted for alcohol abuse secondary to the service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but the claims to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were withdrawn during the appeal process.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow for a VA audiology examination and for obtaining any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to the need to obtain VA audiology records from VAMC Newington.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be as likely as not related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for tinnitus. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is remanded due to a lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion regarding his employability based on service-connected disabilities prior to April 22, 2009.