Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his complete service treatment records and any relevant private medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes in his right or left ear hearing loss, and thus service connection cannot be established. The claim for tinnitus was also denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin cancer (claimed as secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and further review of his medical records.

The Board has found that the evidence is roughly in equipoise as to whether hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear disability are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin disability is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating in excess of 30 percent for left eye aphakia was denied, as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to work. The Veteran's combined disability rating is 40 percent and he does not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation as of September 27, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left ear hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her pre-service conditions and their progression during service.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure was granted, with a retroactive effective date of August 27, 2007. Service connection and initial ratings were also granted for other conditions including CAD, arthritis (unspecified), back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, stomach disorder, and residuals of cold injury of the left hand.

The Board denied the Veteran's accrued benefits claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Raynaud's syndrome, degenerative joint disease, a back condition, and a hiatal hernia due to lack of evidence showing service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his in-service noise exposure is competent evidence of a current disability and continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found no medical nexus required as the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board finds that service connection for cold injury of the lower extremities is not warranted as there is no credible evidence of a current disability and no showing of in-service incurrence or aggravation. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also denied.

The Veteran's current tinnitus had its onset during his combat service in Afghanistan and has continued since then. The Board finds that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence, raising a reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's current tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.