Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

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

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The May 2008 VA examination found moderate sloping to profound bilateral hearing loss, but concluded that these disabilities were less likely than not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining his service personnel records and scheduling him for VA examinations to assess the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of his claimed conditions. The claims will also be considered under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1117 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 for Persian Gulf War service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased evaluation or service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unemployable, meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with no specific reasoning provided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and the Veteran's current conditions are not service-connected.

The Board finds that it is as likely as not the Veteran suffered acoustic trauma in service, leading to his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Therefore, the claims for service connection are granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation and other relevant factors, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting further examinations. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sleep disorder, migraine headaches, curvature of the spine, and tinnitus are granted as secondary to his service-connected temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or for a grant for necessary special home adaptations was denied as he does not meet the criteria for such eligibility due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, including noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to missing service records and new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person and/or being housebound is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran has service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and malaria residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right leg disorder, and his claims for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are denied as there is no evidence of a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year of separation from service. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and his removal of the right lung is a congenital defect. Therefore, these claims have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities for VA purposes, and there was no competent medical evidence linking any such disabilities to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's subjective testimony of continuous tinnitus since service outweighs any lack of specific documentation in his service records.