Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete opinions in the November 2008 examination report.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and a perforated left eardrum, as well as service connection for psychiatric disorders, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher schedular ratings or service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against this claim. However, service connection has been granted for tinnitus due to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for renal insufficiency and tinnitus, with the former being related to Atabrine use during World War II and the latter likely due to acoustic trauma sustained in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right leg disability have been denied. The Board finds that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for further explanation regarding a treatment record.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric test results from November 2005, and further action is required.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of service dates and provision of a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus was found to be incurred in service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss of the right ear are found to be related to service. Service connection for these conditions is granted. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was previously granted, and a rating in excess of 10% prior to August 4, 2008, and in excess of 20% since that date is denied.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus may be related to military noise exposure. The claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is remanded due to a need for further examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's application for TDIU was not a new claim but rather a notice of disagreement, and thus did not warrant an earlier effective date. The evidence does not show unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 17, 2007.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service and granted. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was caused or aggravated by his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. However, the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no probative medical evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

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 VA and private medical records, does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, arthritis of multiple joints, an eye disorder, cold weather injury to the hands, fingers, legs, toes, and feet, bilateral pes planus, and hammer toe disability. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service, and the claim for this condition is granted. The claims for tinnitus, knee disabilities, wrist disabilities, shoulder disabilities, neck disability, and lower back disability are all denied.