Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination and additional development of his claims file.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not due to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney stones, a bladder disability, and an enlarged prostate are denied as there is no competent evidence showing current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have tinnitus that is attributable to his military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not caused or aggravated by his service, and there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to noise during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a result of noise exposure during his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such during service or within one year post-service. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not report any symptoms related to these conditions until many years after service, and concluded that they are more likely due to occupational noise exposure rather than military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination reports, failure to consider continuity of symptoms after service, and lack of consideration of SSA records. The reopened claim for residuals of a right leg and right knee injury is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to military noise exposure, with the evidence being in equipoise as to whether these conditions are service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss disability is so severe that it renders him unemployable, meeting the schedular requirements for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus was granted, with the effective date set at June 27, 1994.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. The case is therefore REMANDED for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service exposure to noise, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted. The decision on bilateral hearing loss will be remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an audiometric examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to acoustic trauma during his period of service, and the Board finds that it was incurred in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and tinnitus due to inadequate development of medical opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of these conditions. The VA must obtain a new examination with a medical doctor to address whether his service-connected anxiety disorder or TMJ syndrome caused or aggravated his hypertension, and whether his TMJ syndrome or any other service-connected condition caused or aggravated his tinnitus.

Service connection for a left knee disorder, bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during military service.,The VA examinations did not find any medical relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his military service.