Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully evaluate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and is related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a new medical examination and an adequate rationale for the opinion.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between current hearing loss and service, as there was no showing of either hearing loss or tinnitus in service or for more than 50 years following separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

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

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back strain.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression, as well as tinnitus, were denied due to lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's assertions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with facet arthropathy, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for total rating based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The Board has found that there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's currently existing hearing loss to his active duty service. The Board also finds that there is no competent medical evidence documenting sensorineural hearing loss for VA purposes within one year of the Veteran's discharge, which would allow for a grant of service connection on a presumptive basis. As such, the claim for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the appellant's exposure to noise during his National Guard service and to evaluate his current hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records and provide him with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his tinnitus, including whether it is related to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's headaches are aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with chloracne, presumed due to Agent Orange exposure during his Vietnam service.,There is no evidence of a current hearing loss or tinnitus that can be linked to the Veteran's military service. The Board finds that service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus, neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected noise exposure during combat in Grenada. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining verification of his dates of service in the Air Force Reserve and scheduling a VA audiometric examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD). The decision found that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to excessive noise during his military service, including from F1 fighter jets, KC-135 jet tanks, B52 bombers, other aircraft engines, explosions from mortar and rocket attacks, and small arms fire at firing ranges. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral tinnitus were established by VA examination, and the Board found that there was credible lay evidence supporting his exposure to noise during service. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of his service connection claims.