Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss to an extent recognized as a disability for VA purposes. The claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied because there is no credible evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability, tinnitus, right and left leg numbness, ear pain, and dry eyes are presumed to have been incurred as a result of active duty service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as they are found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service. The Veteran is also determined to lack the mental capacity to handle VA funds due to his conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the cases have been dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss will be remanded due to incomplete evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to noise exposure during his period of active duty. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a travel board hearing at the RO in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

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

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran has tinnitus that is due to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence, specifically requiring an examination by an ear, nose and throat physician for a hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to May 28, 2010 was denied as he did not meet the schedular or extraschedular criteria for such a rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to his military service, and the Board finds that service connection for tinnitus is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 23, 2010. As of that date, his combined disability rating was 100 percent due to the bilateral hearing loss, making TDIU moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms in service or continuity of symptomatology since service separation. The VA audiological examination found no connection between the Veteran's current conditions and service exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, not otherwise specified, is related to active service and grants service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development and examination.