Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely than not related to his military service, based on the absence of documented hearing loss in service and the presence of a threshold shift during separation. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to ensure substantial compliance with the Board's prior remand directives and to allow VA to fulfill its duty to assist in substantiating his claims. The case will be further developed for all issues, including obtaining clarification of audiometric testing results, providing an addendum opinion on tinnitus service connection, and completing any additional development necessary to adjudicate a claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine the etiology of any current bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his renal cell carcinoma and dysthymia, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since August 1, 2009.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he contends are due to in-service noise exposure. The Board finds the Veteran's account of his exposure to noise from large guns and tanks during service is credible. Further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is equipoise in the evidence regarding the causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not caused by or related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with a 30% rating effective November 7, 2008. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also granted. However, the claim for a meniscal tear of the left knee was denied, as was the request for an earlier effective date for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA medical records, as well as arranging for a respiratory disorder examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a 20 percent rating. The claim for increased tinnitus was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to decision. Service connection for low back disability, headaches, knee disabilities, hypertension, and shoulder disabilities have been established based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from the Veteran's Connecticut Army National Guard service and any outstanding private or VA treatment records. The Veteran is also asked to identify sources of VA treatment since May 2009.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of vision loss, left eye; hypertension; a left knee disability; allergic rhinitis; hearing loss and tinnitus have been withdrawn prior to the Board promulgating a decision.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on being bedridden, housebound, or in need of aid and attendance of another due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as the VA examinations did not adequately address his overall combined impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely attributable to his service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for DM, arthritis of the knees, arms, and hands, tinnitus, and an eye disorder (including cataracts and defective vision), all presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his prostate cancer and urinary incontinence, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his period of active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including hearing loss and knee conditions.