Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). His combined evaluation is 50 percent, which does not meet the required percentage under VA regulations.

The Board found no evidence of tinnitus in service and denied the claim for service connection.,Regarding hypothyroidism, the appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his right hip condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service, and his PTSD did not result in total occupational or social impairment. Therefore, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested in service and continues to this day, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service. The VA audiologist concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss is unrelated to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). The issues of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for a lung disorder, claimed as asbestosis, was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service exposure.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records. The case will be returned for further consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The initial rating for hypertension with early nephropathy associated with diabetes mellitus is denied.

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 Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The Veteran's coronary artery disease is associated with his diabetes and hypertension, warranting a separate rating. A compensable initial rating of 10% was assigned for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following service. The claim for service connection for these disabilities is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating for left pulmonary nodule were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a respiratory disability including bronchitis, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus attributable to service. The claim for alcoholic hepatitis was due to alcohol abuse and filed after October 31, 1990. The left pulmonary nodule has not been shown by competent evidence to result in impairment of pulmonary function.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and he has service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his military service.