Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure resulting in current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as they are rated at 50% combined, and none of them individually rate at 60%. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran is unlikely to be unemployable due to his hearing loss and tinnitus alone.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, Optical Neuritis, Bilateral Hearing Loss, and Tinnitus. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year post-service, and concluded that they are not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a Board videoconference hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for right jaw disability and headaches, but denied service connection for ear condition (tinnitus). The Veteran's right jaw disability is found to be related to his military service. His headaches are not considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including verification of in-service noise exposure and any potential Agent Orange or other environmental exposures.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus. The decision is pending further action as recommended in the remand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable due to PTSD, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical evidence, including an audiometric examination and opinion. The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be evaluated based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was caused by his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to gunfire while serving as a gunner's mate aboard ship. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his period of service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice and a new opinion regarding his tinnitus service connection claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. The claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease and emphysema have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the current noncompensable evaluations are appropriate based on the most recent medical evidence.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such conditions until years after service. The VA examiner opined that it was less likely than not that inservice noise exposure contributed to his current hearing loss and tinnitus.