Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Veteran does not have tinnitus that is related to his military service and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his combined rating is less than 70% and he does not have one disability rated at least 40%. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an extra-schedular evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no increase in severity of pre-existing conditions during active duty and doubting the Veteran's credibility regarding his onset of tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the exception of left ear hearing loss and gastrointestinal disability. The inner ear disability other than hearing loss was reopened due to new evidence, hypertension was not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions, and gastrointestinal disability was found to be aggravated by PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic arthritis of the left knee, and a psychiatric disability including anxiety, depression, and psychosis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, which represents a complete grant of the benefit sought on appeal. The issues of hearing loss of the left ear, low back condition, dizziness condition, and panic attacks/disorder (secondary to dizziness) are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision below and are REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center in Washington, D.C.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent evaluation, the maximum evaluation authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. There is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include multiple knee conditions, a scalp laceration, and restrictive airway disease. The appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence regarding his new claims and VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or for many years thereafter. Service connection was denied on a direct basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and a back disability were denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The skin disorder claim for folliculitis is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. Service connection for the lung disorder (asbestosis and COPD) secondary to asbestosis is remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during service and is not related to exposure to acoustic trauma from tank weapons or operations. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's sebaceous cysts and hypertension are rated at the minimum levels, while his tinnitus is granted service connection. The right shoulder disorder was also found to be incurred in active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral thigh and hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The RO must schedule a VA orthopedic examination and an audiological examination to address these matters.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and review of his worker's compensation claim. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the increased evaluation for panic disorder, so it must be deferred.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have originated during his period of service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issues regarding hearing loss, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the current disabilities are more likely related to post-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, with the current disabilities being considered as a result of noise exposure during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.