Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if his cerebellar ataxia with left extremity tremor is related to ionizing radiation exposure during service. The claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral hip disorder, femur disorder, monoclonal gammapathy, balance disorder and diabetes mellitus are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically acoustic trauma during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and additional development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is attributable to acoustic trauma during active service and grants service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence linking his current tinnitus to service, and thus service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his military service, and the VA examiner found no link between his current hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with the exception of his tinnitus which is presumed due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus and for a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The RO granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss in January 2005, with a noncompensable rating effective from September 14, 2004. He filed an increased rating claim on June 18, 2008, and was assigned a 20 percent evaluation effective the same day.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been denied as there is no competent evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus to his active service, including noise exposure. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is properly evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed left foot disability or tinnitus that is attributable to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence linking his current tinnitus to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to his military service. The VA examiner found no link between any current disability and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise, with no medical evidence indicating that these disabilities are not etiologically related to active service.

The Board found that the May 2001 rating decision did not contain CUE in assigning an effective date of February 13, 2001 for the grant of TDIU. The July 1982, March 1986, November 1988, and July 1996 rating decisions did not contain CUE by failing to grant entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied both claims as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to military service.