Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical examination to determine if the appellant's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, wrist, and thigh disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or that any such disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus has not been shown to markedly interfere with his employment status or necessitate any periods of hospitalization, so the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of current disabilities during or within one year after service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his service connection claims, including verification of stressors and PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and determine if he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a scar of the left index finger was granted with an initial evaluation of 10 percent. The effective date for service connection of tinnitus was set at October 29, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including a need for additional development and a request for a hearing.

The Veteran is not shown to be suffering from tinnitus that originated in or is due to any event or incident of her military service.

The Veteran's headaches have not resulted in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, preventing him from holding down employment. His service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his ability to work in security.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with no specific rating assigned.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were first shown many years after separation from service, and the preponderance of the competent medical evidence is against a relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, but his unemployability is not solely due to these conditions as he has successfully used hearing aids and retired from his job in 1991.

The Veteran's tinnitus and low back disorder are service-connected, but his bilateral knee disorder claim is denied as new evidence does not establish a link to service.

The Board found no evidence of asbestos exposure during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for silicosis was also denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hearing loss due to new evidence. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Board denied service connection for a vascular disability, tinnitus, and rhinitis. The Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus. The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his combined rating of 60 percent from his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus related to service. The evidence is against a finding that these conditions are due to noise exposure in service.