Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, including as a result of exposure to noise or other environmental factors.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure and the conditions did not manifest within one year of service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including obtaining missing STRs and providing a new VA audiometric examination.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the appellant's military service and exposure, as well as his hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for service connection will be remanded for additional examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral vascular disease of the left and right lower extremities, major depression, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that his combined disability rating has been 70 percent or higher since June 20, 2005, meeting the threshold requirement for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset in active service and has not otherwise been shown to be related to such service, thus denying service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for various conditions and a claim to reopen spinal stenosis. The Veteran's intentions regarding his August 2010 VA-9 Substantive Appeal need to be clarified, and he should be scheduled for a Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, which is considered a direct result of his active military service.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than August 21, 2006 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran is granted service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the bilateral knees with degenerative changes, psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder and major depressive disorder), DJD of the lumbosacral spine, and tinnitus.,Service connection is established based on a legal presumption due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including significant noise exposure during service. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is less likely than not related to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 19, 2002, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of clear and unmistakable error in the July 1973 rating decision or any other valid claim filed within one year of notice of that decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional development being required, including a new VA examination for his bilateral hearing loss and issuance of a statement of the case on issues related to service connection for anxiety and depression and tinnitus.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the Veteran did not have continuous symptoms after service. Therefore, the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and hearing loss do not render him in need of aid and attendance or housebound status. The Board also finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service, nor are they otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional evidence from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be related to acoustic trauma experienced during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.