Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The criteria for service connection have been met, with the exception of a specific effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not, singly or in combination, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left leg cellulitis, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and his other claims were based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, mixed deafness of the right ear, and bilateral chronic otitis media with chronic mastoiditis were denied as there is no legal basis for a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for each condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ear pain, including as secondary to tinnitus is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun in service and is granted service connection. The left foot, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities are not currently supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a rating of 30 percent, effective October 9, 2007. The initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun in service and is granted service connection. The left foot, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities are not currently supported by the evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence received does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating them.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from keeping himself clean, attending to his needs, or avoiding daily hazards without assistance. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete development, specifically addressing whether his current conditions are related to in-service infections and high fevers.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported in-service noise exposure is related to his current condition. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that preexisting left ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service and right ear hearing loss did not manifest in service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, with the Board finding that his current symptoms are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during service, and his left ear hearing loss disability was shown on entry into service. The claim for tinnitus is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements and medical evidence show continuous symptoms since service. Service connection was also granted for left ear hearing loss due to noise exposure in service.