Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's exposure to noise during active duty resulted in current hearing impairment. Service connection was denied for tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the Veteran's claims were not supported by medical records or other evidence indicating a nexus between his military service and these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the appellant's service with the Army Reserve and obtaining his service treatment records. The appellant is also to be scheduled for examinations to determine the etiology of his hepatitis C, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and chronic tinnitus are likely related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled Travel Board hearing and inability to locate him. The file will be returned to his representative for preparation of an informal hearing presentation if he cannot be located.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as an increased rating for his amputation of the right index finger, were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims, and that there was no direct evidence linking the conditions to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may their incurrence be presumed. The evidence did not establish a nexus between his current disabilities and his in-service exposure to loud noise.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of hearing on some issues and because one claim is stayed based on new presumptions. The remaining eight claims are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a renal mass, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The Board has ordered remand to obtain clarification of the November 2006 VA examination and to afford the Veteran a VA examination to determine his employability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches prior to June 19, 2007. The Veteran's tinnitus is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to combat-related stressors experienced in Vietnam. The diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus claims are remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected as it began during his active duty and has persisted since. However, there is no evidence linking his current tinnitus to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and erectile dysfunction are granted service connection as they are related to his active duty. The degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is also granted, but the hip condition, leg disorder, and major depression claims remain pending.

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

The Board found that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus as defined by VA regulations, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.,For his skin rash, the Board granted service connection based on a current diagnosis of hypopigmented dermatitis/pityriasis linked to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The claim for a skin disability was not addressed as it is unclear if it was part of the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not due to noise exposure in service. The claims for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction related to herbicide exposure remain pending.