Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to service and denied his claim. The hearing loss disability claim must be remanded for a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his period of active service.,The claim for hypertension was reopened due to new evidence received since the final denial in December 2008.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to failure to comply with a previous remand order.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and urticaria, acne, and dermatitis or eczema (as secondary to tinea corporis) have all been denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as her claims of chemical exposure. Additional development is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, PTSD, bilateral cataracts, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, are reasonably shown to be of such nature and severity as to prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the current medical opinion is inadequate. The Veteran will be provided another opportunity for an examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for mitral valve prolapse. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection based on direct service connection. The hearing loss claim was also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his service personnel records and for a VA audiology examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his TDIU and DEA benefits, left him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board found that he met the criteria for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, including noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's additional disabilities, including rhabdomyolysis and other conditions he claims are related to Zocor use, were not caused by VA's failure to exercise due care or consent. The evidence shows that the Veteran had been taking Zocor for years without incident prior to his hospitalization in 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hearing loss, do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 29, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since May 1, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to April 16, 2014.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were found to be caused by in-service exposure to excessive noise. Service connection was granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be causally related to his active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and to schedule him for appropriate VA examinations. The appeal will be remanded to allow for these actions.