Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of wisdom teeth, tinnitus, vision loss, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as he does not have hearing loss or tinnitus related to his military service. The right foot and leg disorders are also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's cause of death, a cerebral vascular accident (CVA), is not related to his service or any service-connected disability. The appellant was granted TDIU benefits for accrued purposes based on her husband's pending claim at the time of his death.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and he has a current diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) of the legs. The Board finds that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of his employment capacity.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted effective April 10, 2002. The Board found that the evidence did not establish unemployability prior to this date.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development of his records and examination. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence, including treatment records from his Naval Reserve service and civilian employment with the United States Postal Service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's post-polio syndrome was incurred during his active military service, giving him the benefit of doubt.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be related to her active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by military service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to noise during service. The evidence did not show an increase in severity of these disabilities during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during his active service, based on credible lay statements of symptoms since service and medical evidence confirming current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and right thumb injury due to additional development being required, including obtaining a medical nexus opinion on the etiology of his tinnitus. The Veteran's claim for residuals of a right thumb injury is also remanded as he did not receive a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding this issue.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right eye disabilities in an August 2004 decision, but did not address the Veteran's claims of tinnitus. The December 2005 Board decision declined to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for left eye disabilities.,Since the August 2004 Board decision, new and material evidence has not been received sufficient to reopen the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and right eye disabilities. However, since the December 2005 Board decision, new and material evidence was submitted sufficient to reopen the claim for left eye disabilities.

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

The Board has granted the Veteran's motion to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus and has also granted service connection for tinnitus. The new evidence indicates that the Veteran's preexisting foot disability was aggravated by an in-service injury, while the tinnitus is linked to a head injury during service.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder, heart disease, stroke, seizures, cold injuries to service or any specific exposure. The Veteran's assertions were not credible and his claims for these conditions were denied.