Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but the residuals of his left ankle injury remain in dispute. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarification on whether he has any current foot or ankle disability related to his service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he attributes to noise exposure during military service. The VA has requested additional examination and review of the claims file to determine if there is a relationship between his current hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gastrointestinal disability (including ulcers), kidney stones, and right knee synovitis were denied. The Board found that the pre-existing hearing loss was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of a left perforated tympanic membrane and service connection for several secondary conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vestibular disorder (loss of balance and motion sickness), ear infections, and earaches. The underlying condition was not rated higher than noncompensable.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and continues to this day, with resolution of reasonable doubt in his favor. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and denied his claims for service connection. The other issues were also addressed but are not included here.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of hearing loss or ringing in ears during service or within one year thereafter. The Veteran's current conditions were not caused by noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection as they are found to be related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues of service connection for tinnitus, a higher disability rating for PTSD, and TDIU. These claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and found that his bilateral hearing loss claim was not reopened. The COPD issue is being remanded.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and COPD were all denied by the RO in January 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to unclear audiometric results and inadequate rationale for negative nexus opinions regarding his left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran is required to provide clarification of these issues through a new VA examination.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is presumed to have been incurred in service and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran has current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the most probative evidence indicates these conditions are unrelated to his military service, including specifically to that noise trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service, including anti-aircraft gunfire and engine room noise. As a result, the claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service.

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