Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD and bilateral pes planus, do not render him unemployable as his education and occupational experience allow for substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The VA determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further medical development regarding his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found that the Veteran's current cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders were not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss) do not meet the threshold minimum percentage requirements for TDIU due to their combined disability evaluation of 60 percent. However, the case is being remanded as there are insufficient records on file to determine his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his active service and granted service connection for it. For his bilateral hearing loss, the Board found that the evidence did not support a higher initial rating as there were no more than auditory acuity levels II in the left ear and IV in the right ear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his active service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

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

The Veteran's current diagnosed tinnitus is the result of a disease or injury in service, and his claim for service connection has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of the right testicle, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no clinical confirmation of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and increased disability ratings for maxillary sinusitis and residuals of a left fibula fracture, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen his tinnitus claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if separate ratings for the residuals of an acoustic neuroma can be assigned, with a goal of obtaining a combined rating higher than 60 percent.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, it was determined that current bilateral hearing loss does not meet VA's definition of a disability due to lack of in-service complaints or treatment related to hearing impairment. The Veteran's tinnitus is also denied as there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed condition.

The Board has determined that further examination and medical opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no medical evidence linking the current disabilities to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, and his dental disorder claim is denied as there are no qualifying current dental disorders.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated at the highest possible level of disability, a 60 percent rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was granted a 20 percent rating effective December 20, 2006. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also granted.