Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are causally related to his noise exposure during service. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his exposure to loud noise during service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted, with the effective date being February 5, 2004. The Veteran was also awarded a 100% rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to loud noises during combat duty in Vietnam. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

Service connection is in effect for tinnitus and anxiety, both considered as part of the service-connected brain trauma. The Veteran's hearing loss disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of hearing impairment within the meaning of VA regulations. The claim for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with a reasonable basis attributing these conditions to exposure to gunfire and noise during active duty.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are supported by medical evidence, and his competent statements regarding in-service acoustic trauma have been considered. A positive medical nexus opinion supports a finding that his hearing loss is causally related to service.

The Veteran is unable to find or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, with the exception of October 12, 2010 when he received a 100% rating. The issue is now moot after that date.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. However, further examination is needed to determine if his right shoulder, right foot, and left knee disabilities are also related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during service or are otherwise related to in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from September 8, 2006 to September 10, 2006 at St. Francis Hospital are approved as the VA facilities were not feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would not have been reasonable.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for tinnitus, as it is rated at its maximum allowed by VA regulations. For the period from November 26, 2008 to June 9, 2010, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also rated at its maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder bursitis with ulnar neuropathy, duodenal ulcer, tinnitus, right wrist sprain with small degenerative cyst, otitis media, and hemorrhoids, preclude him from securing and maintaining gainful employment. The Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service exposure, resulting in service connection.,The Veteran's back injury is not considered to have resulted from VA treatment or negligence, leading to denial of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.