Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone cause him to be in need of regular aid and attendance or render him housebound, thus he is entitled to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular rating in excess of the current 10 percent for both conditions.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing VA and SSA records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reviewed with additional evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to April 18, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of February 2, 2010 for the assignment of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities as it was factually ascertainable that he was unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment at that time.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. After considering all of the evidence, including private medical opinions and the Veteran's testimony, the Board finds that both conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for ischemic heart disease was denied as there is no current disability and the VA examiner found that he does not have ischemic heart disease.,VA has scheduled the Veteran for a DRO hearing to address his claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service and concluding that his current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance was denied as the evidence did not support his contention that he used leg braces which caused wear and tear on his clothing.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty. However, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.,For the remaining issues of left knee disability and right knee disability, additional development or processing is required.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to military noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of secondary service connection for osteoarthritis of the neck, back, fingers, knees, and ankles due to rheumatoid arthritis remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. The neck disability issue remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as the evidence is in equipoise, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to in-service noise exposure, and the Board finds that service connection for tinnitus should be granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board granted an effective date of October 13, 2000, for the award of service connection for tinnitus based on the Veteran's submission of a claim for this condition in October 2000.