Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining private audiology records and an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining a VA audiometric evaluation and relevant outpatient records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has ordered a remand due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including his December 2013 statement recanting previous statements about noise exposure and tinnitus onset. The claims will be reconsidered with this new information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral cataracts, postoperative residuals of lens replacements, and right eye retinopathy are proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II. The Veteran's tinnitus is also found to be secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Board is reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for blurred vision and remanding it for further development. The claims for higher initial ratings for adjustment disorder, vertigo, and tinnitus are fully decided. Effective dates for grants of service connection for these disabilities are also being considered.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated treatment records and determine the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the readjudication of the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim on appeal will be REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, as it had onset during active duty and was not due to combat exposure or a specific incident. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral tinnitus is granted as his current condition began during active service due to noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinea pedis (athlete's foot) and tinnitus, finding the evidence in equipoise regarding these conditions.,Service connection was also granted for bilateral feet disorders, claimed as flat feet.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination for determining the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied by the Board in November 2005, and he did not appeal this decision. The RO granted a TDIU effective August 24, 2009 based on his reported unemployment due to service-connected disabilities. However, it is not factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred prior to this date.

The Veteran's initial rating for CAD was increased to 60 percent effective May 23, 2013. The TDIU claim is remanded as the Veteran has not been provided with a new VA examination or application form.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) sitting at the RO or in the alternative, a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an ENT examination and a determination on whether tinnitus is related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to active service, and thus granted service connection for tinnitus. The hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a cardiac disorder due to further evidentiary development. The Veteran is also given an opportunity to testify at a local VA office hearing.