Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from prison and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and TBI residuals.

The Board has determined that there is no diagnosed concussive disability during the appeal period. Therefore, service connection for a concussion disability cannot be established.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, hypertension, and a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD are granted. The initial compensable rating of 10 percent for tinea pedis and onychomycosis is also granted.

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 determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. The case will be remanded for a supplemental opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, PTSD, anal fissure, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, right ankle laxity, inguinal hernia repair residuals, left ear scar, groin scar, and erectile dysfunction, collectively preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, tinnitus, and transient ischemic attacks and right middle cerebral infarct, combine to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally connected to his active service, as it was noted during service and continued after separation. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his tinnitus service connection was received on October 27, 2011. Service connection for tinnitus was granted effective that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination and consideration of the TDIU claim. The higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and the TDIU claim will be reconsidered in light of all evidence.

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 Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Biloxi Vet Center and providing a VA examination to assess the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities. The appeal is not yet decided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a left shoulder replacement and tinnitus, render him unemployable due to their severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his claim for TDIU. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.