Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

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

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's disease with associated hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and headaches effective from September 23, 2004. This decision is based on the Veteran filing a claim specifically for Meniere's syndrome in September 2004.

The Veteran's stapedectomy residuals with vestibular impairment and vertigo are rated at 30 percent since February 26, 2008. The claims for higher ratings or TDIU were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service, as they were diagnosed after he had already separated from active duty.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between current hearing impairment or tinnitus and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current diagnoses and in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for hearing loss or tinnitus based on direct evidence and denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claims of higher initial evaluations for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right fourth finger disability are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as evidenced by normal hearing levels at discharge. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were not caused by military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,For the initial rating claim, the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was rated at 10 percent effective August 2, 2007, and right ear hearing loss was not compensable.

The Board found that the appellant's character of discharge from service is not a bar to entitlement to VA compensation benefits, as his cocaine abuse during service was due to his in-service PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the claims of service connection for hypercholesterolemia and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for various orthopedic conditions, including back, shoulder, knee, hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, the claims are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected disabilities and denied the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination with an audiologist to determine the etiology and severity of any hearing loss or tinnitus disorders. The issues on appeal are also remanded due to procedural errors in the issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case.