Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been evaluated as noncompensable. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for reopening a claim for service connection for tinnitus and for claims of bilateral knee disability and strokes. As such, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these matters.

The Board has determined that there is a reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as insufficient consideration of his skin disability. Additional examinations and records are needed.

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

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation on account of being housebound prior to January 29, 2009 is granted. The claim for aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service as it manifested during or within one year of his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to inconsistencies in the August 2013 VA examination report and a need for further medical evaluation.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for tinnitus and diabetes mellitus, including a need for ship logs and an opinion on the etiology of tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected and rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The Board also granted a higher rating for his anxiety disorder, but denied other claims including those for sleep apnea and arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and affords him the benefit of the doubt. As such, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective dates for PTSD, right hip disability, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The Board has no further jurisdiction over these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and thus, he is granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus manifested to a degree of ten percent or more within one year of his separation from service, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back condition. The Board finds that these conditions are related to service and grants service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for VA examinations. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, a skin condition, and upper body skin cancer.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus, which is associated with the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's overpayment of $1,572.00 in disability compensation benefits is waived due to the circumstances surrounding his incarceration and the apportionment of benefits.