Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Resolving reasonable doubt in his favor, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be incurred during active military service due to noise exposure. Similarly, recurring tinnitus is also found to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the September 2003 Informal Hearing Presentation did not constitute a valid Notice of Disagreement (NOD) to the June 2000 rating decision, and thus, the effective date for the 100 percent schedular rating was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left thumb injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The right knee disability was granted with certain limitations but no higher ratings are currently assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected as they were caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to unreliable examination findings. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's chloracne is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to Agent Orange.,Tinnitus, headaches, left eyelid weakness, scars on chest and legs, facial reconstruction scars, and tinea corporis, tinea pedis, and allergic contact dermatitis are all found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active military service, granting full entitlement in both cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent and credible in his report of ringing in his ears during service, experienced continuous symptoms since service discharge, and provided competent and credible testimony regarding exposure to acoustic trauma. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are as likely due to service noise exposure, resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his service-connected tinnitus has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral perforated tympanic membranes, tinnitus, and a disability manifested by headaches, dizziness, and lightheadedness were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability in these conditions. The evidence showed no onset of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and there was no credible continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, maxillary sinusitis with vasomotor rhinitis, and tinnitus have been denied as the maximum schedular ratings are already assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent tinnitus is related to his active service and granted service connection. However, there is no evidence of hearing loss for VA purposes in service or within one year of discharge, nor is there chronicity of symptomatology since service discharge, thus denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his period of active military service and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during his active military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have manifested during active duty service and the Board granted service connection for this condition, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran. As such, he is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral hearing loss disability, but the issue of an increased evaluation for PTSD remains pending.