Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is causally or etiologically related to his military service. Bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral eye disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection as there is insufficient medical evidence to link current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a more thorough examination by a VA specialist to determine if his current conditions are related to in-service exposure to artillery noise.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the other issues. Service connection was established based on a diagnosis of PTSD due to combat stressors in Korea.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his military service, while an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is not. The Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD due to lack of combat experience.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a pulmonary disability (including obstructive sleep apnea) and bilateral hearing loss. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not have diabetes mellitus or hypertension attributable to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service, while bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated in service and may not be presumed due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of a compensable rating for any of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preexisting conditions were considered to be sound at entry into service, and there was no evidence of aggravation during service.

The Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) prior to September 2007, but as of that date his adjusted countable income did not exceed MAPR. Therefore, nonservice-connected VA pension benefits are granted as of September 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and asthma are etiologically related to his active duty service in Kuwait. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and providing appropriate examinations.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service, nor did any such disease or injury contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as the newly submitted evidence does not provide a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 13, 1999, for the grant of service connection for a postoperative scar of the left ankle and tinnitus were denied as there was no earlier claim received within one year following separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no credible or competent evidence of a connection between his current conditions and his military service.