Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (migraine headaches, major depression with fatigue, degenerative changes to the knees, tinnitus, Hepatitis C, and a plantar wart on the right foot) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for Meniere's syndrome with bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. The RO had previously granted a 30 percent rating for Meniere's syndrome in December 1976.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder is service-connected as it was incurred during active military service. The claim for tinnitus remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) are found to render him unemployable due to his PTSD symptoms, which make it very difficult for him to acquire or maintain gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a neck condition, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The claim for reopening of the neck condition was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and PTSD, with a noncompensable rating initially assigned for PTSD. The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service due to noise exposure during his tour of duty in Vietnam. For PTSD, the Board determined that there was sufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptoms since service, leading to an initial 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and service connection for tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting either claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his employability given his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining his personnel file and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and thus denied the Appellant's claim for DIC benefits. The case is now remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD contributed to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's current ear problems (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) and organic brain disease were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after separation from active duty. The VA examination did not support a link between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, heart disease, residuals of a stroke, and lumbar spine disability are not supported by competent evidence. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding an in-service injury or event that would support these claims.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for cervical spondylosis was denied. Service connection for low back, right shoulder, and eye disorders were also denied. Tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding treatment records and an inadequate VA examination.