Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to acoustic trauma during active military service and grants the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's current tinnitus was shown to have onset during his period of service from October 2001 to September 2003 and has continued since then. The Board found that the Veteran's lay statements were credible, outweighing the unfavorable medical opinion of the VA examiner.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during active service and the Board finds that it was incurred as a result of his military noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service and not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus began during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for additional benefits 'awarded but unpaid' to which the Veteran would have been entitled retroactively to December 1, 1998. The case is now remanded for a VA medical opinion regarding whether any of the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to cause his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a right leg disability is denied as there is no current evidence of such condition. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent since April 9, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus were denied as there is no credible evidence of a current disability or any link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. The claims will be reconsidered with a focus on whether these conditions are related to service or other factors.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability in either ear and no nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his active service, including noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's internal hemorrhoids, sinusitis with headaches, and tinnitus are not service-connected. However, the Veteran's major depression is granted an initial rating of 50 percent prior to June 23, 2009.

The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension are related to service, but denied the claims due to lack of direct service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have had its onset in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for tinnitus is REMANDED.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and he was assigned a rating of 30 percent for his PTSD. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have sleep apnea or hepatitis C due to service, but he does have tinnitus, headaches, anxiety disorder, depression disorder, lower back disorder, upper back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral hand disorders related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and respiratory condition claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to unclear diagnoses and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.