Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, including in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The VA examiner found no evidence of a chronic disability within one year after separation from service, and the weight of the evidence does not support a finding that either condition is related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to service exposure. The right and left hallux valgus and hammertoes, as well as the residuals of a right clavicle fracture with internal fixation, were all rated at 10%.

The Board has determined that the service person incurred bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of acoustic trauma experienced during periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a 40 percent rating effective August 5, 2010. His tinnitus claim was reopened and service connection was established. Bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records. The VA examinations are also scheduled at a location closer to the Veteran's current address in Tennessee.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no credible evidence linking his current tinnitus to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no competent evidence showing a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are related to his service, but left ear hearing loss is not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of October 28, 2006. The TDIU claim is denied as the unemployability is due to nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining prison records and scheduling VA examinations to address service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of hernia repair with right ilio-inguinal neuropathy was granted. The Board also found new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied low back disorder claim, but did not address service connection for arthritis, head trauma, or sciatica.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it was incurred during active military service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards, and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was granted for tinnitus based on continuity of symptomatology since service separation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's continuous complaints of tinnitus since his service are sufficient to establish continuity of symptomatology. The low back disorder claim is remanded as there is insufficient nexus evidence provided by the VA examiner and private physician.