Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for right ear hearing loss, bilateral hand disability, and higher initial ratings for iliotibial band syndrome of the right knee and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is a result of in-service acoustic trauma and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board finds the Veteran's assertions of in-service ringing, even without a contemporaneous notation of such, credible.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be adjudicated. The Veteran's scheduled VA examination was not conducted due to his failure to report, but the RO will attempt to schedule a new examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA regulations.,The Veteran has submitted new evidence that relates to his claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, which have been reopened. However, there is no legal basis to assign a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss meets the criteria for a noncompensable disability rating based on VA audiometric examination results from March 2011.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records and further examination is needed for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current condition. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not addressed as it was not adjudicated by the RO.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection effective January 19, 1995. The decision is based on the Veteran's report of experiencing tinnitus since service and his prior claim for hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder, is rated at 100% effective May 10, 2001. The Veteran's status-post bunionectomy with k-wire fixation of the left first metatarsal phalangeal joint and arthroplasty of second proximal interphalangeal joint is rated at 30%. The Veteran's neuritis of toes 1 and 2, associated with her service-connected disability, is separately rated at 10%.

The Veteran experienced tinnitus coincident with his service in Vietnam and such has continued to the present time, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to active duty service. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, mechanical low back pain, and residual scar of an excised ganglion cyst of the left wrist are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's headaches, right ear disabilities, left ear disease, and back disability are service-connected. The effective date for the increased rating of 20 percent for the back disability is set at April 19, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requests clarification on whether the Veteran wants a hearing for his dizziness disability claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be service-connected. The right and left knee disabilities, as well as the bilateral pes cavus, metatarsalgia, and fasciitis were not granted increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, bilateral eye disability (including bilateral cataracts), and tinnitus due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The claims are pending further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in this case, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to address the appellant's claims for service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's cause of death was congestive heart failure due to or as a consequence of COPD. The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining home hospice care records and providing an opinion on whether service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (interstitial lung disease, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and tinnitus) make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to active military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus. The hearing loss claim will be remanded as requested.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Orange Park Medical Center from July 26 - August 1, 2012 were approved as the services rendered were for a disability of a veteran who has a total disability permanent in nature resulting from a service-connected disability (PTSD).