Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Better Hearing Centers of Florida and scheduling a VA examination to determine if hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and medical opinions regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus. The AOJ will also obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes and therefore service connection is denied. The Veteran's statements regarding the onset and continuity of his tinnitus are deemed not credible.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, malaria, and tinnitus were denied. His claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for a hip replacement was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted as the evidence shows that his tinnitus began in service and has continued since, with credible testimony from the Veteran supporting this assertion.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed, specifically obtaining the Veteran's Reserve medical records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during treatment at the Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus on July 21, 2011 is denied because the condition was not a medical emergency and a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, PTSD, and chronic left ankle strain due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate opinions in the July 2015 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus and hearing loss disabilities are related to his service, with the weight of evidence being at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during or were aggravated by service. As such, service connection is granted for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's LUE disability, including gout and polyradiculopathy, was not service-connected.,However, the Veteran received separate ratings for his TBI-related headaches (30%), depressive disorder (50%), and tinnitus (10%).

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The VA examiners opined that the disabilities were less likely due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran is not rendered unable to obtain (secure) or maintain (follow) substantially gainful employment as a result of service-connected disabilities for any period.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's three-vessel disease is presumed service-connected due to in-service herbicide agent exposure. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran had service in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam Era, and therefore he is presumed exposed to herbicides. His current bilateral hearing loss may be related to his preexisting condition, but the examiner's opinion does not adequately address this issue. The Veteran's tinnitus is less likely than not caused by or a result of acoustic trauma in service. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is less likely than not caused by or a result of service.

The Veteran's tinnitus arose in service and continued to the present, warranting service connection.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, with the Board finding that continuous post-service symptoms of tinnitus are sufficient to establish service connection based on direct service connection.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due solely to his service-connected herniated disc disease with laminectomy, L5-6. A TDIU is granted.