Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

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

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for tinnitus and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied reopening of the previously denied claim of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, including noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, vision disability, left knee and right knee disabilities, left foot condition, right foot condition, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and a psychiatric disorder claimed initially as catatonic schizophrenia. The decision also noted that the Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for a vision disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during her military service and has continued since then. The Board finds it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus is attributable to her active military service.

The Veteran's residuals of an inguinal hernia repair are not shown to be manifested by recurrent or bilateral involvement, and his tinnitus is service-connected. The claim for a compensable rating for the inguinal hernia was granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is related to military noise exposure. The claim for recurrent skin rashes of the face and inner thighs, claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, remains pending.

The Board has determined that there is no current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and the Veteran's tinnitus did not develop due to service. Therefore, both claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for tinnitus are being remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, ankle pain, low back pain, and headaches are remanded due to incomplete information regarding active duty periods.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are consistent with in-service noise exposure. The issue of a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's current tinnitus disability is related to his military service, and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in active military service. The evidence does not show any complaints, findings, treatment, or diagnosis for these conditions during or immediately after service. The VA audiologist concluded that current hearing loss and tinnitus are more likely related to post-service employment as a machinist.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from performing the duties of a TSA baggage screener, and his current occupation is not unsuitable based on his specific employment handicap and capabilities.