Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, heart disease, sleep disorder, and neuropathy of the hands were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD).

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is a result of noise exposure in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active military service, including his period of service in the Republic of Vietnam. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in active military service. The evidence did not show objective evidence of significant acoustic trauma during service, nor was there any chronicity of symptoms for decades after separation.

The Veteran's recurrent tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found no evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for shortness of breath, PTSD, tinnitus, and gout have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran engaged in combat during his active duty service, which supports a finding of service connection for PTSD. Tinnitus was also linked to his military service. However, the claim for gout is pending as an opinion regarding its onset in service or relation to service has not yet been provided.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for hearing loss and that there was no current disability for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service in the Minnesota Air National Guard, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's employability solely based on his service-connected disabilities. The RO must obtain a medical opinion assessing whether he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus is related to his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify PTSD stressors and determine if the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and colon cancer, both claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure, have been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, both claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure, due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment at Delaware Valley Hospital on September 30, 2005 were denied as the treatment was non-emergent and did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the Appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a fractured right thumb were all granted. The Board found that the Veteran had in-service noise exposure which likely contributed to his current conditions.