Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran met the VA standards for these conditions during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board finds that the Veteran had a current disability of bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and subjective tinnitus, which are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, as there was no evidence of such disabilities during service. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are more likely related to civilian noise exposure after service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for nasopharyngeal cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected nasopharyngeal cancer. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to his active military service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have current diagnoses of hearing loss in either ear or an acquired psychiatric disorder, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for chronic cervical spine tardive dyskenisia and bilateral hearing loss due to his withdrawal of these appeals. The only remaining issue on appeal is service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and verifying his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic osteomyelitis of the left lower leg, cellulitis of the left lower leg, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic disability as a result of heat stroke have been granted. The claim for chronic sinusitis was also granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for Major Depressive Disorder, tinnitus, and asbestosis have been withdrawn. The appeal regarding TDIU was also dismissed. Asbestos exposure is not considered a factor in the Veteran's respiratory symptoms or hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing at the local RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, with the Board finding that his tinnitus is as likely due to military noise exposure or associated with his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including a VA examination to reassess the severity of his bilateral pes planus with arthritic changes and a medical nexus opinion concerning the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a cervical spine disability remain pending and require further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for specific phobia is granted, while the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter, and is not related to in-service noise exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the competent medical and other evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was incurred in or otherwise the result of his active service.