Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the competent clinical evidence of record is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in active service. For the other issues, including an increased evaluation for lumbar disc disease with history of scoliosis and a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids, the decision is mixed due to some issues being granted while others are denied. The effective date issue regarding lumbar disc disease remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective date, increased rating, and service connection are denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a link between his in-service noise exposure and current tinnitus, warranting service connection.,Service connection for tinnitus of the right ear has also been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on a lack of current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and therefore, his surviving spouse is not entitled to service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has also been granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As a result, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and a clinical opinion regarding his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a disability. The left ear hearing loss is service-connected as it was shown during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and need for further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that his continuous ringing in his ears since active service is related to his military service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, tinnitus, or a perforated left ear drum for VA compensation purposes and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a result of noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it had its onset during military service and has continued since then. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the requirements set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, but his left ear hearing loss is considered a disability under the regulation. The examiner also noted conflicting evidence of record regarding the onset of hearing loss and tinnitus. Additional development is required to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus disabilities are sufficient to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).