Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic rectal cancer, which is not service-connected. The Board found no evidence linking the cancer or its causes to any service-connected condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus disability is related to in-service noise exposure and symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for an increased rating for hypertension has also been granted, with a current evaluation of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with noise exposure as a primary factor. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected, as it is consistent with his in-service noise exposure. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including audiometric and orthopedic examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Board found that his PTSD symptoms warranted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's death was due to a nonservice-connected condition, but he had a pending claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss at the time of his death. The Board finds that the evidence supports this claim and grants the nonservice-connected burial allowance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to exposure to loud noise during service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of a hearing loss disability. The tinnitus claim also lacks sufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year after discharge. The claim for residuals of ruptured eardrum, including scarring, was denied due to lack of competent medical evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with the VA audiologist finding it as likely as not that these conditions were incurred during his active duty.

The Board has vacated the January 2009 decision and granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it was incurred in active service. Hearing loss is not service connected as there is no evidence of current hearing loss within VA standards.

The Board found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his service or any disease or injury of service origin, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a result of in-service exposure to acoustic trauma and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and asthma based on the Veteran's credible assertions of in-service noise exposure and symptom onset.,Affording the Veteran the benefit of the doubt, the claims are supported by current diagnoses and a medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for recoupment of severance pay is denied as the law requires it and VA does not have discretion to grant or deny such a request.