Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during service, specifically his active duty in the 1967 Detroit Riot. As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and the Veteran's current complaints are not credible. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to his noise exposure during active duty service. The VA examiner concluded that the current disabilities are not caused by or a result of military noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional medical examinations and opinions to determine the relationship between his current hearing loss, tinnitus, bladder carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the anus, and peripheral neuropathy with exposure to herbicides in service.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus and the Veteran's reported symptoms are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed under DC 6260. The Board has determined that a higher rating for his tinnitus is not warranted as a matter of law.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, respiratory condition (COPD and asbestosis), right great toe injury residuals, and left hip condition. The decision also noted that his PTSD symptoms did not meet criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records, clarifying his representative, and providing a new VA audiometric examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service treatment records and SSA disability records.

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

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, but the VA examiner found it at least as likely as not that his tinnitus began during military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure from gunfire, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a current VA audiometric examination and review of the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for tinnitus remains pending as his appeal does not address this issue directly. His claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus is granted and the effective date is set at May 6, 2002.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin tags, tinnitus, chronic laryngitis, and warts on the finger and thumb were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a TDIU. The Veteran will be provided with VA audiological examinations, and his claim for a TDIU will be readjudicated.