Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

Your claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has determined that the original grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was based on clear and unmistakable error, and thus the severance of these conditions from service connection is proper.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in service, nor are they proximately due to or the result of a disease or injury in service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as his claimed stressors could not be verified, and he did not engage in combat. The Board found that the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD due to an in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to his active military service. The evidence of record, including service treatment records and post-service medical records, does not support a finding that the current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, which may be associated with active service. Additional development is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and increased initial evaluations for his cervical spine and L5-S1 spondylosis disabilities have been granted. The Veteran is currently assigned a 10 percent evaluation for his L5-S1 spondylosis with spondylolisthesis and sacroilitis prior to December 4, 2001, and a 10 percent evaluation for his degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine prior to June 11, 2001.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his active service, including exposure to loud noise during military training. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's nerve damage of the hands and feet claim is denied. The tinnitus claim has been granted as service connected, with a finding of clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision. The cervical spine arthritis claim was reopened based on new evidence showing current disability, which is considered to be incurred during peacetime service. The prostate disability claim remains not diagnosed or service-connected.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus and denied his claim for service connection of a back disorder due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of onset during service or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 90 percent, meeting the criteria for TDIU under VA regulations. However, his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as a result of their impact on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and a left arm condition, but denied these claims as they are not related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and therefore denied the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that a hearing loss disability is not shown. The claim for evaluation of residual scar, status post laceration of right middle finger remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, with current evidence showing a nexus between service exposure to noise and post-service symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left knee disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are denied. The claim for an increased rating for lumbar spondylosis is also denied.