Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of all relevant evidence, including a supplemental opinion regarding tinnitus and cardiac disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for recurrent tinnitus is granted as the condition first manifested during active service and has persisted since.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's syndrome, which includes hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's left wrist condition and skin condition are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus in his left ear, as it is believed to be related to noise exposure during active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim remains pending as further development is needed. The psychiatric disorder claim also remains pending due to insufficient evidence of record.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain vocational rehabilitation records and provide the Veteran with a new VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied these claims on their merits. The claim for a respiratory/pulmonary disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings were generally granted, with the exception of his claim for tinnitus which was denied due to lack of evidence. The Veteran's joint and muscle pain is considered service-connected, as are his right eye conjunctivitis and facial numbness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary due to inadequate opinions on the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and service-connected tinnitus. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Heritage Hospital on December 23, 2009 meet the criteria for payment or reimbursement under VA regulations. The treatment was deemed necessary due to a prudent layperson expectation of an emergency condition and no feasible availability of VA care.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and thus denied his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's left thumb disability is rated at 10 percent, the highest possible rating under Diagnostic Code 5228. The other issues on appeal are not addressed as they involve different conditions and theories of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss do not meet the criteria for SMC or SMP based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.,The Veteran does not have a single disability rated at 100% in addition to his back disorder, nor is he over 65 years old. Therefore, he does not qualify for SMP at the housebound rate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for service connection purposes due to lack of evidence showing hearing loss or tinnitus during service. The VA examiner found no link between in-service noise exposure and current bilateral hearing loss, and concluded that it was more likely caused by occupational noise exposure post-service.

The Board found no evidence of a current left ankle condition or an in-service injury, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The tinnitus issue is pending as it was placed in appellate status by the Veteran during her hearing.