Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset during service or within one year of his discharge from service, and they are not shown to be related to disease or injury incurred in service. As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including noise exposure during flight operations. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus disability is etiologically related to service, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to January 15, 2016. For the period from January 15, 2016, he is not eligible for schedular TDIU but may be eligible for extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities were not incurred during his active duty service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and is granted as incurred in service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has granted a full grant of benefits for the Veteran's tinnitus claim and has assigned a 60 percent rating for his service-connected prothrombin gene mutation with factor V Leiden mutation, post-phlebitic syndrome, of the right lower extremity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his period of active service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for a back disability in February 2014 but his appeal on this issue has not been certified for current review.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted as it meets the criteria for service connection. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is addressed in a separate REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, UTIs, blackouts, residuals of frostbite of the feet, and umbilical hernia have been denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from August 19, 2012 to August 21, 2012 are not eligible for reimbursement under VA regulations because the services were not rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health. Additionally, VA facilities were feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand was reasonable.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and hemorrhoids, but denied the claims for left and right knee disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's request for hearings has been advanced, and the case is being remanded to schedule a travel board hearing. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are still pending.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lung condition, vertigo, diabetes mellitus type II, tinnitus, and heart condition are inextricably intertwined with other claims. Therefore, these issues must be remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service, as his hearing was within normal limits at the time of last exam in service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for hypothyroidism and tinnitus, both of which are considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to conflicting information regarding his employment status and the need to determine if he has been substantially gainfully employed since June 2009. The AOJ will also consider whether a TDIU would be moot during any applicable time period in light of the Veteran's 100 percent combined rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow him a videoconference hearing before the Board, and for further development of his claims.