Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective from January 23, 2009. The decision is based on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on May 10, 2007 at BryanLGH Heart Institute (BHI) because the treatment was not rendered in an emergency situation and a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including DDD of the lumbar spine and PTSD, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of September 11, 2013. His TDIU claim is granted effective from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his PVD of both upper extremities does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset during or immediately after service, and are not related to acoustic trauma in service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and his tinnitus is less likely caused by service. The claim of increased rating for left shoulder disability meets criteria for a 30% rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent throughout the appeal period, and service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The issues of hearing loss and TDIU remain unresolved.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure. The hearing loss claim remains pending as it was not addressed by the VA examiner.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, nor may sensorineural hearing loss be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are considered less likely as not permanently aggravated by his service ear infection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are service-connected, but his right ear hearing loss is not. The claims for service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing right ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during service and that there was no evidence of left ear hearing loss or tinnitus. The decision also noted that the Veteran had experienced acoustic trauma while serving as a chaparral missile crewman.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure, and his bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Veteran's severe back pain with numbness and weakness in his lower extremities, which was aggravating his service-connected PTSD, met the criteria for emergency treatment not previously authorized. The medical expenses incurred at a private chiropractic center were reimbursable as they were necessary due to an emergent condition that would have been hazardous if delayed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, which represents a complete grant of the benefit sought on appeal. As such, no discussion of VA's duty to notify and assist is necessary.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active service, specifically the noise exposure he experienced while serving as an air traffic controller and aircraft pneudraulic systems specialist. As a result, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and the Board finds that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran is entitled to TDIU and SMC for the period prior to March 26, 2007 due to service-connected disabilities of residuals of shell fragment wounds of the left hand, hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and a scar from an exotomectomy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and other orthopedic conditions, are found to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.