Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is at least in equipoise with his claim of having experienced symptoms during active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and there was no evidence of such disabilities during service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no credible evidence of in-service noise exposure or current disabilities during service. The only competent opinion against the claims was provided by a VA audiologist who opined that it is not as likely as not that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board has found reasonable doubt in favor of service connection for tinnitus, but the Veteran's hearing loss is not currently considered a disability under VA criteria. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and determine if there is any relationship between his current hearing loss and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining his service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, including acoustic trauma incurred as a result of serving as a jet mechanic on the flight line for four years. The Veteran's lay assertions regarding continuity of symptomatology were considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, suppurative otitis media, tinnitus, and vertigo) do not render him unemployable as his combined disability rating is only 60 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he contends are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and a higher evaluation for tinnitus was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current 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 claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board finds that Alzheimer's disease did not have its onset in service or is otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle disability, and his hearing loss of the left ear and tinnitus are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions were denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be service-connected. Tinnitus, hypertension, and disability of the eyes are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is due to in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during service or are otherwise unrelated to his active service. As a result, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination results and incomplete service records. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered with a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, cold injury residuals in upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus are not service-connected.

The Board found that tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.