Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not begin during or as a result of his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo, defective hearing, and tinnitus effective July 31, 1980. The Veteran's claim was based on his participation in atomic bomb testing during military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated during active service and is more likely a normal spontaneous tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is denied because he has Medicare coverage, which precludes VA from paying the expenses. The service-connected conditions (tinnitus and hearing loss) do not hold aggravating effect on the gastroenterological condition that warranted the double-balloon enteroscopy.

The Board affirmed the RO's decision denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being remanded to determine if the Veteran's service on USS Kearsage qualifies him for presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have tinnitus related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent to handle funds disbursed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, based on evidence showing his ability to manage financial affairs with appropriate supervision.

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

The Veteran's hearing loss of the left ear and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of current disability for VA purposes, specifically regarding hearing loss of the right ear.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, as his competent and credible assertion that it was incurred in service outweighs the negative opinions provided by VA examiners.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is related to active service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it requires further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic tinnitus. The case is being remanded for further development of the evidence, including obtaining any pertinent VA or private treatment records and providing the Veteran with additional VA audiometric and otologic examinations.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his present conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such conditions within one year after separation from service. The claims for service connection were therefore denied.