Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the issue of service connection for tinnitus can be decided.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records from SSA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a hearing before a Decision Review Officer and issuance of a Statement of the Case on the issues of special monthly compensation based on loss of use, need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate, and service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension.

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 a current disability or in-service disease/injury. The VA examiner concluded that any hearing loss developed post-service due to normal aging.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for tinnitus, seeking separate evaluations for each ear, is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran had other disabilities, but did not grant service connection for them.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The RO found that the current evaluations were appropriate, and no new evidence was submitted to reopen previously denied claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including irritable bowel syndrome, depressive disorder, arthralgias in multiple joints, headaches, and fatigue, idiopathic fasciculation (muscle twitching), tinnitus, chondromalacia patella of the bilateral knees, left shoulder tendonitis, post-operative scar tissue, and chronic sinusitis with nosebleeds, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's current tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated in active military service and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

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

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board found that the severance of service connection for peripheral neuropathy was improper due to the Veteran's competent reports of numbness and tingling in his lower extremities, which were consistent with a diagnosis of mild peripheral neuropathy. Service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's tinnitus and his military service, as there were no in-service complaints or findings of tinnitus. The VA examiner concluded that the current tinnitus was not related to service due to its infrequency.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not incurred in service, including during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and reserve duty. As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for a decision and additional development is needed.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are attributable to service, warranting a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board is reopening the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but remanding them to the RO for further development. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) claim remains pending.