Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

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 decision also resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition. The tinnitus claim is remanded as additional examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Board denied DIC benefits as the service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and tinnitus, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions and insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar strain (claimed as low back pain, claimed as secondary to service-connected residuals of fracture, left femur, with left knee strain) and tinnitus. The claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for disability resulting from residuals of fracture, left femur, with left knee strain was also denied.

The Veteran likely has tinnitus that is attributable to her active military service, and the Board finds service connection for tinnitus is warranted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records and private practitioner records, as well as a VA examination for tinnitus. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination, clarification of medical records, and additional development.

The Board has decided that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to service. The decision on the hearing loss claim will be based on a determination by a VA examiner.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection was not received prior to June 13, 2008. As such, the effective date for his granted benefits is set at June 13, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not occur during service or for many years thereafter and is not related to his active service, including noise exposure. As a result, the claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for a right eye disorder. Tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while the right eye disorder does not have sufficient evidence of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease have been granted.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a grant of service connection for tinnitus, as there are no clinical manifestations of tinnitus within the applicable time period and continuity of symptoms has not been established.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have a direct relationship to his military service, as evidenced by normal audiometric results during service and no reported symptoms or issues post-service. The claims were therefore denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, chronic bronchitis, and glomerulonephritis with hematuria as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, specifically exposure to loud artillery fire during his MOS as a field artilleryman. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not occur during service and is unrelated to any in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.