Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Reserve service records and preparing an etiological opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, or bilateral pes planus. The claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability in these conditions at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claims of service connection for a headache disability and an upper extremity disorder are also granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD is remanded due to the need for a new examination. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to address his left knee condition and hearing loss/tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he has PTSD and an addendum medical opinion regarding his tinnitus. The claims will be reviewed again after the requested actions are completed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and considering newly submitted evidence.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus meets the legal criteria for basic eligibility for VA home loan benefits.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss is not attributable to his military service and denied his claim for service connection. The tinnitus issue remains pending as a new examination was ordered but has yet to be completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is incurred in service and his skin disability is not, granting service connection for tinnitus but denying service connection for a skin disability.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no causal nexus between his current condition and military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not causally related to service, as his conditions did not manifest within one year of discharge and there is no evidence linking them to in-service noise exposure. The examiner concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss was less likely caused by acoustic trauma in service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has established a current disability (tinnitus) and there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation, as well as a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an SOC addressing his claims of increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a heart disability rated at 60 percent and other conditions, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no CUE in the March 1993 rating decision, and the Veteran did not provide requested information or cooperate with VA examinations.