Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen several service connection claims, but the Veteran's claim for headaches is reopened. The remaining issues are decided based on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset in service. The claim for a ruptured ear drum is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it prior to the decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right inguinal hernia, status post repair. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since the effective date of his claim. The issues of amebic dysentery, right appendectomy scar, residual of a back disorder, and tonsillectomy are withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for PTSD with major depression and organic brain syndrome with headaches, dizziness and tinnitus was denied as his claim is a freestanding claim that cannot be considered due to the finality of previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to inconsistencies in the appellant's claimed low back and tinnitus injuries occurring outside of his verified periods of INACDUTRA service. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran does not have tinnitus that is attributable to his active military service. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence against a finding of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and notification issues, requiring further development of the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The examiner opined that the Veteran's hearing loss may be due to post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by military service. The Veteran's skin disorder claim is remanded for additional development.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus claims. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it is reasonably shown to have had its origins during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain his service personnel records, conduct a VA examination, and consider additional evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for PTSD. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the hearing loss claim, and that tinnitus did not have onset during or was not caused by service.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is found to have had its origins during his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.