Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The issue of an increased initial evaluation for tinnitus is intertwined with the earlier effective date claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's low back disability, along with other service-connected conditions, has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.,The Veteran is entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his active service. Service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to his active service, as there is no credible evidence of such during or immediately after service. The VA examiner's opinion was more probative than Dr. RJC's due to its reliance on clinical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and consideration of combat exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service. The Board is remanding the claims for a back injury, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is required, including scheduling a hearing for the appellant. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, as evidenced by noise exposure during service. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, scars, gastrointestinal disability, and upper respiratory sinus condition and allergies have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.,The Veteran's STRs were silent for complaints, findings, treatment, or diagnosis relating to hearing loss and/or tinnitus. Her postservice VA examination did not find any current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, specifically, to his in-service acoustic trauma. As a result, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) has been denied as he does not meet the schedular or extraschedular criteria.

The Board has ordered a remand due to incomplete records and the need for additional VA medical examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies in audiometric results and potential need for a medical examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to verify his periods of active military service, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The VA will schedule him for an audio examination to determine if his current hearing loss and/or tinnitus is related to any period of active service or a verified period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of left shoulder, tinnitus, chest condition, abdominal muscle injury with sexual dysfunction, back condition, hamstring condition, or arthritis due to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 20, 2007, for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the legal requirements for TDIU prior to April 25, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by a VA examination report which found no link between current hearing loss and tinnitus and noise exposure during service. The claim is therefore denied.

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