Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss. The issue of service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to a timely Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any current respiratory disability is related to service and whether any tinnitus or left ear hearing loss is related to service. The Veteran's claims of service connection are pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically whether it is at least as likely as not related to service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral foot disorder was remanded by the Court. The case is now being returned to the Board due to his appeal of the increased rating for left shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative joint disease of the acromioclavicular joint, status post acromioplasty.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for post-operative residuals of prostate cancer is granted, with an effective date from August 14, 2008. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia are all denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have tinnitus attributable to active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, so a higher rating cannot be granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus and back disability are both found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right, below-the-elbow amputation and bilateral hearing loss, render him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted an increased rate of SMC based on this need.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The RO has denied the claim, but it is being remanded for further development including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not occur in service and is not related to any disease or injury incurred in service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as his current conditions are not shown to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims have been interpreted to encompass Meniere's disease, and the Board finds that a VA examination should be conducted to clarify the etiology of this disorder. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are currently pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted. The claim for right ear hearing loss is pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for nervous stomach/spastic colon, hemorrhoids, ruptured ear drum, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus to his military service, and denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The effective dates for the granted benefits are established.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied by the Board. The denial is based on the current combined evaluation of his service-connected conditions (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) not meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred in service, and the claim for service connection for pulmonary disease is denied.