Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disorder. The decision found no current disability in any of these areas, and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with no presumption or new evidence required. The onset of both conditions is linked to active military service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a clarifying medical opinion.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran likely had bilateral hearing loss due to noise exposure during his military service, while there is no evidence linking his current tinnitus to his active duty.

The RO has granted service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The appeals are dismissed as the issues have been fully resolved.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to acoustic trauma during his active service, and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during service and the weight of the evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to any disease, injury, or incident during service. Post-service noise exposure is considered more likely responsible for current symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including exposure to noise during military service. As a result, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate disorder, skin disorder, heart disorder, and kidney disorder. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 5, 2007 for TDIU was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The issues of service connection for a right shoulder disability and a bilateral hearing loss disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, diabetes, and tinnitus disabilities combined to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board also found that the issues of left latissimus/trapezius strain, neck pain with numbness and tingling (both claimed as upper back pain associated with service-connected paralysis of the long thoracic nerve with left winged scapula), and right winged scapula were mixed - some issues granted while others denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities and for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.