Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran requested the withdrawal of his appeal, and as such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been withdrawn.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service.,There is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or any chronic symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus during service. The VA examiner concluded that it was less likely as not that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus are related to military noise exposure.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The claim is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are a result of his military noise exposure during service. As such, these conditions have been granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for arthritis of major joints other than the knees is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is likely due to noise exposure during active duty. The claim for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for medical examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding the impact of his service-connected disabilities and prescribed medications on his employability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the Veteran did not have a current disability due to in-service noise exposure, and there was no evidence of such. The maximum schedular rating for left ulnar neuropathy has been granted.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination and opinion are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether any pre-existing left ear hearing loss disability was aggravated by service. The case is REMANDED for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide further development before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted it. Service connection is also granted for multiple scars of the back, which are not already contemplated by a pre-existing condition.

The Board found no evidence of a kidney disorder or asbestosis in service, and the Veteran's testimony regarding these conditions is not credible.,There is no competent medical evidence linking current asbestosis to service exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 29, 2004 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied. The issue of evaluation of diabetes mellitus is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, as is his PTSD. Service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities was granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure.