Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of all evidence, including a determination on the credibility of the Veteran's claimed stressor for PTSD.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is related to his period of active military service and the claim for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and to provide him with appropriate VA examinations. The claims will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's in-service stressor occurred and there is credible supporting evidence of its occurrence. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, do not render him unemployable without regard to his age.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and the current conditions are not related to service. Therefore, the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that he required regular aid and assistance, nor was he considered permanently confined to his home.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hip/leg disability, finding that the Veteran's statements regarding a continuity of symptoms since service were not credible. Service connection was also denied for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to a material change in the facts relating to his service-connected disabilities, including recent grants of service connection and increased ratings. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and restrictive interstitial lung disease, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right thumb disorder were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board found that the evidence does not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, memory loss, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability related to active military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence of these conditions during active duty and insufficient medical evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence of a right hand disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or gastrointestinal disability due to service. Service connection was also not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as they are not shown to be related to his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA audiological examination to determine the likelihood of service connection for his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not related to his military service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in regards to the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As such, these issues are REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease, is related to his in-service neck injury. Hearing loss disability was not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and is unrelated to service. Tinnitus is related to the Veteran's service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus, and the Veteran's complaints are not shown to be related to his service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be established.