Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran is advised to submit any relevant evidence or statements from family members who have information about his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the claim for diabetes mellitus but denied the claims for hypertension, hearing loss, and tinnitus as new and material evidence was not submitted. Service connection is granted for an eye disability resulting from dental trauma in service. The Veteran's other claims remain denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate examination, requiring further search for service medical records and a comprehensive medical examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. Service connection for duodenal ulcer and hypertension are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have established service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, as these conditions are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and finds that it was incurred during his active military service due to exposure to loud noises. The decision grants service connection for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and addressing the adequacy of previous opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore service connection is denied for hearing loss, right eye problems, tinnitus, and bilateral hand/wrist joints.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his intermittent tinnitus is not etiologically due to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) during service, including National Guard service. As such, these conditions have been granted as service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these claims. The VA examinations did not show current hearing loss or tinnitus in either ear.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 60%, which does not meet the threshold for a TDIU benefit as set forth under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to the RO for consideration of additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or otherwise the result of active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is found to be at least as likely as not related to military noise exposure. The appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claim for PTSD will also be reviewed based on verified in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records to be associated with his medical and claims files. The VAMC must locate and associate all relevant evidence, including private medical opinions and denials of his request for a full-size foam mattress.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.