Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining STRs and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and tinnitus as presumed due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's sinus condition has been rated at 10 percent prior to July 13, 2011 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to active service. The VA examiners concluded that any increase in disability was due to natural progression.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have its onset in service and is etiologically related, granting service connection for tinnitus. The other issues are not addressed as they do not involve a determination of service connection.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on February 15, 2012 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center were denied as the treatment was not rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected and his PTSD disability rating is increased to 50 percent. The Veteran's request for TDIU prior to October 16, 2013 is granted.

The Board granted the Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU, but refers the issue to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for extraschedular consideration due to his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirement for a TDIU prior to September 20, 2016. The most probative evidence does not reflect that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD, was granted.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and tinnitus were dismissed due to lack of appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and its impact on his ability to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not caused by service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation. Therefore, service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The claim for service connection for these conditions remains denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is causally related to noise exposure during active service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing. The issues of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and an audiologist's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to loud noise during his time in an artillery unit. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

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 onset of symptoms during service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to be due to his service in Vietnam, but the other conditions are not shown to be related to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.