Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are causally related to noise exposure during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is instructed to obtain additional treatment records from 'Dr. Moretz' and provide new opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's current tinnitus and left ear hearing loss.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his period of active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis of multiple joints was not incurred in active military service and may not be presumed due to exposure to anthrax. The other issues were denied as well.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The issues include service connection for various conditions, with some potentially related to in-service injuries or exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to adjudication of the claims for hearing loss and disabilities of the right hand, toes, feet, legs, and eyes on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities to determine if he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to an inadequate medical examination, including a need to explain why delayed onset of hearing loss and tinnitus are unlikely related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his active service, including exposure to noise during basic training. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA clinician's opinion on his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as they meet the criteria for direct service connection due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including exposure to high-speed drills in dental work. The evidence does not support a finding of organic disease or chronicity.

The Board has determined that a hearing should be scheduled for the Veteran and additional VA outpatient records are needed before the claims can be fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, secondary to diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. For his tinnitus claim, a new VA examination is needed as the previous one did not consider in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA audiological examination to determine if his hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized arthritis of multiple joints has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty, meeting the criteria for service connection.