Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and grants this issue. The hearing loss claim remains pending as a VA examination was ordered.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture have been rated at the maximum disability level due to pain, weakness, and limitation of motion without ankylosis. A separate compensable rating for sensory polyneuropathy is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted.,For the period from May 22, 2006 to September 5, 2007, the evaluation of bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of bilateral hearing loss, chronic low back pain (L1-L3), and a bilateral ankle disability have been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the right ear hearing loss being granted on a direct basis and the left ear hearing loss being granted based on aggravation. Tinnitus was also found to be incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and bilateral knee condition were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred due to noise exposure during service. The issue of hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear and tinnitus, as well as a compensable disability evaluation for right ear hearing loss. The evidence did not support the presence of these conditions during or due to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including neck injury, heat exposure, thoracolumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, skin condition, tinnitus, PTSD, gastrointestinal disorder, erectile dysfunction, fibromyalgia, and sleep disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional substantive development is necessary prior to appellate review of the claim for service connection for tinnitus, to include as secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely caused by noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently shown tinnitus is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service noise exposure or any other link between active service and these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss of the left ear, as well as the claim for an increased rating for hearing loss of the right ear. The evidence received did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence, but service connection remains denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that the Veteran did not meet the durational requirement for a total disability rating at the time of his death.