Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of any current hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as their relationship to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left knee limitations, tinnitus, sinusitis, degenerative joint disease, hearing loss, and malaria, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and finds that new evidence received since the last final denial is sufficient to establish a current disability. The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his military noise exposure, including from grenades during training exercises. As such, both claims are granted.

The Veteran's claims for reopening of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded. The claim for PTSD remains pending as the service connection theory is considered 'direct'. No rating or effective date has been assigned.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be likely due to exposure to noise during service, while his bilateral hearing loss meets VA criteria for a disability. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability (depression) are related to her military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and right wrist condition are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and instructed that all relevant treatment records, including hearing test results from December 2005, should be obtained. The claim for service connection for tinnitus will be reconsidered based on the newly acquired evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and therefore granted as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids were rated at 10 percent prior to December 23, 2008 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's shell fragment wounds right forearm with scars resulted in a 10 percent rating.,The Veteran's tinnitus was rated at 10 percent since October 23, 2007.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and dysthymic/depressive disorder), head trauma residuals, or hypertension in service. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claim for a left foot disability is pending. The claim for a low back disability remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for chloracne. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be proximately due to his service-connected hearing loss, while the evidence supports a direct relationship between the Veteran's chloracne and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's tinnitus is attributable to acoustic trauma during active military service. The claims of entitlement to initial compensable evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right and left wrists, and a TDIU are REMANDED.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, right ear tinnitus (claimed as a right ear disability), and back disability are not service-connected.,The Veteran did not meet the legal requirements for establishing basic eligibility for VA non-service connected pension benefits.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including a VA examination and additional medical records. The claim will be adjudicated again based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to noise exposure during his National Guard service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or hearing impairment at separation. The claims are therefore denied.