Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service and concluded that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his period of service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

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The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus, as well as whether it is secondary to his service-connected hearing loss. The Veteran should be provided with notification explaining how to substantiate a claim for secondary service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, as there was no evidence of a permanent increase in severity during service. The VA examiner concluded that the current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to acoustic trauma experienced in service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from May 19, 2008 to June 10, 2010 due to his service-connected PTSD preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a low back disorder, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, right lumbar radioculopathy, and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations and mental health issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that they are related to military exposure to acoustic trauma. Service connection for essential hypertension was denied as it did not have its onset during active duty or within one year of discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements are sufficient to place the evidence in equipoise as to whether his claimed tinnitus had its onset during service. The left knee condition claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, SSA records, and hearing transcripts. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and erectile dysfunction are inextricably intertwined with a claim for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his military service, thus restoring entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The claims for service connection and initial rating remain on hold until further notice.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, low back, headaches, and tinnitus disabilities are related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms during service. The VA examiner concluded it was less likely than not that the Veteran's current tinnitus and hearing loss were caused by his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not incurred in or aggravated by active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper extremity and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as his claim for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure, have not been substantiated. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma. His right ear hearing loss is also found to be related to service. No new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for bilateral upper extremity and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy or left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's TDIU claim was withdrawn during his August 2011 hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, result in a combined 80 percent evaluation and preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The criteria for entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The claim for recognition of his son M.C. as a 'helpless child' was granted.