Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss began during service or is related to service. The tinnitus is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and melanoma are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus. After considering all the evidence, including lay assertions from the Veteran, the Board concludes that it is at least as likely as not that the current tinnitus began during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied these claims. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture affecting employment as to warrant consideration of unemployability on an extraschedular basis for the rating interval from January 14, 2004, through December 12, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and gunshot wounds to the right shoulder and buttock, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted effective June 17, 2005.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current tinnitus and any in-service head injury or service-connected post-traumatic migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded as additional records are needed and an examination is required.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus due to noise exposure during service. However, the lung disability (COPD and asthma) is not linked to service or asbestos exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but these claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link between any diagnosed conditions and military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not start during service and is not related to in-service noise exposure, thus denying his claim for service connection.

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

The Board has ordered additional development due to the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including seeking records from VA facilities where he received treatment.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain VA medical records for a complete record.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The rating for a left foot callous, service connection for skin rash of the left ankle, and reopening claims for right knee disorder, depression, and tinnitus are all on appeal.