Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and personnel information. The AOJ will make a second request for the Veteran's service treatment records, attempt to obtain his service personnel records, and seek any VA treatment records since January 2007.

The VA denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current condition is related to noise exposure during his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination, particularly regarding lung disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's request for independent living services is denied as the additional training or help with psychosocial rehabilitation and courses in grant writing, meditation, art and photography (including purchase of art supplies, photography equipment, computers, scanners and cameras) is not required to allow him to achieve independent living.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his exposure to noise trauma in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an audiologist's opinion regarding whether tinnitus is related to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and thus could not establish direct service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current level of disability and any relationship between his tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for a right knee disorder was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria for reopening.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's combined rating of 70 percent from multiple service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for VA examinations and other procedural issues.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is reasonably shown to be related to the same etiological factors in service as his service-connected hearing loss and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's hearing was within normal limits during service, and he did not report any ear trouble at separation. There is no medical evidence linking his current hearing loss or tinnitus to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus was incurred in service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.