Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim of service connection for headaches was reopened and granted. Service connection for hypertension is granted as the evidence shows a history of hypertension within one year of discharge from service. The Veteran's tinnitus is also found to be related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and ear problems, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The decision is pending further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his military service, including active duty for training and inactive duty for training. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the current disabilities did not have their onset in or are etiologically linked to his service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The VA examinations conducted did not support a finding that these conditions were caused by noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including consideration of in-service noise exposure. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service. The RO also denied service connection for tinnitus, finding no evidence of such condition during service.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be service-connected, while her tinnitus is not considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for right knee/leg disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, while his claim for right ear hearing loss is denied. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it prior to appeal. Service connection for a respiratory disorder, claimed as due to in-service dust and asbestos exposure, is also dismissed.

The Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to an effective date earlier than July 31, 2008 for the establishment of service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss as there was no indication from the Veteran prior to this date that he sought or believed he was entitled to such benefits.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.,The Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, including whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions, when considered together, render him unemployable. The claim will be readjudicated after obtaining a new opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The hearing loss is presumed due to acoustic trauma during active duty and National Guard service, while the tinnitus is considered to be related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, and diplopia as residual of a facial fracture. The Veteran's right hip issue is also on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between current symptoms and service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his service-connected disabilities, including those related to hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, diplopia as a residual of a facial fracture, and right hip disability. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for other conditions is also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted with a 30 percent initial disability rating effective October 26, 2005. The RO also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a low back disorder have been reopened, with the underlying claim for PTSD being granted.,Service connection has not been established for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.