Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case. The issues on appeal include service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a neurological disorder of the left upper extremity, as well as an increased rating for hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to noise exposure during his period of active service, including both in-service and post-service periods. As such, the Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and the Board finds that she currently has tinnitus that arose in service. The remaining issues of diabetes, high blood pressure, and hypothyroidism are remanded for further development.

Your appeal is being remanded due to the failure to hold a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. You will be scheduled for a hearing at the RO, either in person or by video conference.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service. The August 2002 rating decision denying the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gunshot wound of the left wrist is final. No new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a gunshot wound of the left wrist.

The Board has remanded the case for further explanation of the attorney fee award, as the AOJ failed to provide a detailed basis for the $2,590.60 in attorney fees awarded.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not start during his military service and is not related to any in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection for GERD secondary to PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II is also granted. The issue of service connection for umbilical hernia remains pending as it is not clear if it is directly related to service-connected conditions or if it is a separate condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, verifying in-service stressors, and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral tinnitus, and back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective as of his retirement in 2008 due to service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis does not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture, warranting no extraschedular rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and medical opinions, requiring a new VA examination and opinion addressing the Veteran's claimed onset of tinnitus in-service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 7, 2014.

The Veteran's tuberculosis, which was incurred in service and contributed to his death from metastatic lung cancer, has been found to have substantially or materially contributed to the cause of death. The issues of entitlement to an increased evaluation for major depressive disorder and entitlement to a TDIU on the basis of substitution are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and left ear hearing loss are all service-connected. The tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred during active duty due to noise exposure. The degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is considered a chronic condition that became manifest within one year of separation from active duty. The left ear hearing loss is not service connected as it did not become manifest within one year of separation and there is no evidence of aggravation by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested in service and has continued since, meeting the criteria for service connection. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.