Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer and hearing loss/tinnitus was granted, with the effective date set at the date of his initial claim (March 7, 2011). The conditions are considered to have arisen during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and confirming periods of Active Duty Training Reserve (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training Reserve (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disability do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his service-connected disabilities. His hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service or any incident therein. The Veteran's left leg being shorter than the right leg is related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding his in-service duties and to provide a new VA examination to address the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, headaches, and depression were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and is caused by in-service acoustic trauma, thus establishing service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to his active duty service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The increased rating claim for the cervical spine disability remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vision problems (cataracts, retinal detachment, glaucoma), including as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and colon cancer. The Veteran will also need updated treatment records from his VA provider.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus, which are of a common etiology, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. Therefore, the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied, but he received a grant for his left foot injury. The claims of service connection for neck disability, left eye disability, and bilateral hearing loss were not addressed as they are not service-connected. Service connection was granted for ED secondary to PTSD and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, and irritable bowel secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination of his upper extremities and issuance of a statement of the case on his bilateral tinnitus and right wrist disability claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to missing service treatment records and the need for additional examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, neck disability, upper back disability, tinnitus, and PTSD were denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD and low back disability are not earlier than May 6, 2009, and September 22, 2009 respectively.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a videoconference hearing. The claims will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as a VA examination is needed.