Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and therefore could not be presumed to have had their onset in service. The VA examiner opined that the current audiometric findings are consistent with normal aging effects rather than noise-induced hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are all service-connected.,These conditions were diagnosed during or shortly after active duty service.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's tinnitus claim will be reconsidered after these developments.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is a symptom of his hearing loss, which is causally linked to acoustic exposure during active service. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's skin disorder on the feet was reopened but not granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year post-service. The VA examiner found no connection between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current conditions.

Your claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as an increased evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder, are being remanded to the RO for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and Meniere's disease. The claim for new and material evidence to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, which represents a complete grant of the benefit sought on appeal. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, neck disability and left varicocele are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss disability in either ear for VA compensation purposes and his tinnitus was not manifested during service or related to active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 10, 2002, for the grant of a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to lack of factual ascertainability of his inability to work prior to that date.

Service connection has been granted for cold injuries of the feet and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is also granted.,The Board lacks jurisdiction over three issues as they have already been resolved in a February 2010 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a personal hearing. The claims of service connection and reopening will be addressed after the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent, tinnitus at 10 percent, and hypertension is not service connected.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the unavailability of service records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any hearing loss or tinnitus, as the previous opinion was inadequate.