Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The appeal will be considered further after this is done.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the threshold schedular criteria for a TDIU, as he is still employed full-time. The Board finds that his employment does not preclude him from securing or following any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted a 10 percent rating effective September 29, 2003. The claim for service connection is considered to have been filed within one year of the liberalizing law (March 1976 and June 1999), allowing an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD, diabetes, or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection are not ready for appellate disposition due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his active service, including inservice noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The TDIU claim has also been raised.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Meniere's disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and medical opinions to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions. The issues on appeal include service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and basal cell carcinoma, as well as initial rating claims for PTSD, hemorrhoids, lumbar spine degenerative disk disease, inguinal hernia residuals, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, as evidenced by in-service noise exposure. The skin disability is not currently diagnosed, but may be due to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is also not currently diagnosed, though it is suggested based on the Veteran's reported experiences.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically addressing his reported noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred in service. The issues of hypertension and sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The issues of service connection for tinnitus, heart disorder, PTSD rating, TDIU, and reopening of the tinnitus claim are pending.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.