Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure in service and grants service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for ulcerative colitis remains pending as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a left ankle sprain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issues were not remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee were all granted. The Board found that there was at least as likely as not that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, a back disorder, and a bilateral knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or that any are related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, a thoracic spine disability (claimed as a right shoulder disability), and tinnitus. The Veteran's hearing loss claim was withdrawn by the Veteran before the decision could be made.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As such, these claims are denied.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the appellant's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities and his military service, including noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss of both ears and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated during his active duty service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 50%, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities alone. The Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, Epstein Barr/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, Raynaud's syndrome, anemia, diverticulitis, tinnitus and migraines are all found to be related to Agent Orange exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The right foot condition is pending as there are no findings regarding its onset during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of these claims due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence. The decision also deferred consideration of his claim for tinnitus pending completion of development.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical services provided by Halifax Hospital on April 14, 2006 was denied because the services were not a medical emergency and prior authorization was not obtained.