Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and associated complications, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person to manage his insulin pump and administer insulin.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a supplemental opinion regarding the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as the current medical opinions are inadequate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and his claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been granted. The claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cardiac disorder have all been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service, while his sterility claim is pending as the cause of his sterility is not explicitly recognized as a condition linked to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a 40 percent initial rating, effective from the date of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and has persisted since, warranting service connection. The case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be decided, including obtaining audiogram results and conducting VA examinations for hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and lower back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear or tinnitus, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and the Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 30 percent. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the TDIU issue due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability. The case is being returned for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they resulted from in-service noise exposure. The left ear hearing loss is also service-connected, but only because it was aggravated by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support these claims based on in-service noise exposure and current symptoms.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to her military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of aggravation during service and that his current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already in effect.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptomatology since service. Service connection for these conditions is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to service, with doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Service connection is granted for both conditions.