Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, multiple joint pain, tinnitus, and IBS, render him unemployable. The Board finds that his TDIU is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, which is considered a direct result of her active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not a result of acoustic trauma sustained during his military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted, as the Board finds that his tinnitus is attributable to his active service. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) remains pending and will be addressed in a separate SOC.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the current hearing loss disability is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence, as the existing evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the underlying claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from Brown Hearing Center, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for PTSD and TDIU has been granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent for PTSD, effective June 24, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC due to lack of need for regular aid and attendance or permanent housebound status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, and his hearing loss disability is established as a result of in-service noise exposure. The remaining issue of service connection for hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As a result, these claims are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service or noise exposure therein, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss to his active duty service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining employment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus was related to his service, but the Board found that his bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in service and is unrelated to service.