Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for skin tags and herpes zoster lesions (claimed as a skin disorder) was withdrawn. The Board also found that the Veteran does not have current peripheral neuropathy, and thus cannot establish service connection on a secondary basis to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service combat-related acoustic trauma and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations and verification of his Reserve service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the decision favoring the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation training is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate his service connection and increased rating claims, as well as his employment handicap issues. The VR&E Division will also gather information from his last employer regarding his resignation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the residuals of a right index finger injury are incurred as a result of active service. Tinnitus was not shown to have developed during active service and is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his military service, including combat in Vietnam. The claim is therefore granted.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination and obtaining treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition. The issues of bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current level of hearing impairment meets VA criteria for a disability, but his tinnitus was not shown during service or related to noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a psychiatric disorder were denied as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, finding the Veteran's current conditions are not causally related to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain VA medical records and to ensure that all due process requirements are met before adjudicating the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for tinnitus and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a relationship between current tinnitus disability and service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability in the left ear is related to his military service. The right ear hearing loss was not found to be incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss, and thus, service connection for this condition is denied.