Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss and that there is no competent medical evidence linking either condition to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiological and ENT examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service, while his tinnitus is not. Bilateral hearing loss is granted as a result of noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and the currently-diagnosed tinnitus is not associated with his active duty.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. His anxiety/depression disorder has been granted service connection.

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

The Veteran's claims for a higher evaluation for tinnitus and service connection for PTSD were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for separate schedular ratings for bilateral tinnitus, as such disability is already at its maximum rating of 10 percent. For his psychiatric disorder claim, the Board noted that VA had not obtained all relevant mental health treatment records and that a VA examination was needed to determine if PTSD or other psychiatric disorders were linked to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no schedular basis upon which to award more than a single, 10 percent rating. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was also denied due to the maximum schedular rating being assigned.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent evidence linking his current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred during service, and his claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran claims service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, alleging exposure to noise during active duty. The Board finds the need for a VA examination to determine current diagnoses and etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further examination. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The Veteran's account of in-service acoustic trauma and post-service symptoms is considered credible, and the Board finds it at least as likely as not that his current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were incurred during military service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied as his combined evaluation does not meet the threshold requirements and he is not precluded from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the appellant's cause of death and TDIU claims due to incomplete development, including a need for VA outpatient treatment records from 2003-2004 and SSA disability benefits decision. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated by a VA physician.

The Board has determined that the appellant's alcoholism is not service-connected due to it being a result of voluntary and willful drinking. The claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and ulcers were denied as well.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during active military service. The claim for tinnitus remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining records from his time in the U.S. Naval Reserve and at the Corpus Christi Vet Center.