Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be due to noise exposure during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and attempting to confirm the Veteran's reported service history.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being required, including obtaining personnel records from USPS and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is assigned for both conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection and a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with MDD was granted. The claim for TDIU is moot due to the grant of a total disability evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year after separation from service, were not shown to be related to his active duty service, and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board finds that service connection for tinnitus is warranted based on the Veteran's credible testimony and medical evidence linking his current condition to noise exposure in service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service, with aggravation of pre-existing conditions. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his active duty service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Meniere's syndrome with deafness and tinnitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, residuals of a left wrist injury, and residuals of a right wrist injury, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from SSA and scheduling VA examinations to determine if the Veteran currently has residuals of a head injury, headaches, tinnitus, or a psychiatric disorder. The claims will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The new evidence received since the last final denial supports these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA audiological examination records and scheduling a new VA examination at the closest VA Medical Center. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military noise exposure or service-connected hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including scoliosis, a low back disability, bilateral foot and leg disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, migraines, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he attributes to in-service noise exposure. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and tinnitus was not shown in service or within a year of discharge from service. The claims are therefore denied.