Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the threshold requirements for a TDIU under VA regulations. The evidence does not support a finding that his service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further examination and development due to insufficient evidence of his employability.

The Board found that the effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be earlier than June 13, 2007 due to lack of evidence showing a claim was filed before this date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the maximum schedular disability rating authorized under VA's rating schedule is already assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new examination to assess the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of service treatment records, requiring further development to determine if current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus based on in-service onset of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam, and thus the presumption does not apply to these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss. The claim for bladder cancer was not substantiated as there is no evidence of its presence during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish exposure to ionizing radiation that could support a presumption under 38 C.F.R. § 3.311.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records related to hearing loss and tinnitus. The appellant's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be causally related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The claim for a back disability secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disability will require further development as outlined in the remand instructions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with some degree of hearing loss noted during service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and military service. The preponderance of the evidence is against both claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to his active duty service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with a private examiner linking these conditions to noise exposure during active duty. As such, the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new medical examination and consideration of various theories of service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues involving increased evaluations for peripheral neuropathy and vascular disease. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.