Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for low back, right shoulder and bilateral elbow disabilities due to overuse in service. The Veteran's congenital Ehlers-Danlos syndrome was aggravated by the physical demands of service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current tinnitus is due to his in-service acoustic trauma from a grenade, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his active service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the propriety of severance of TDIU and DEA, as well as his claim for separate 10 percent ratings for service-connected bilateral tinnitus, has been denied. The maximum schedular evaluation for bilateral tinnitus is already assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition is granted. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes in his right ear, nor does he have tinnitus related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for tinnitus, but finds that new and material evidence does not establish a link between current tinnitus and active military service.

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

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing disability meeting VA criteria for service connection and concluded that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during service or until years after service, and there is no medical evidence linking her current tinnitus to military noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and bilateral tinnitus were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for left hip trochanteric bursitis, right hip trochanteric bursitis, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.,Initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for the hips and knees were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and a rating in excess of 50 percent for bipolar disorder with alcohol abuse and depression, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion, and a new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service or his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional private treatment records and possibly a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while sufficient to meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not incurred during his period of service. The issue of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss remains pending and will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, right ankle disorder, low back disorder, right hip disorder, and right leg disorder are all service-connected. The right foot and big toe disorder is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and scheduling a comprehensive VA examination.