Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is causally related to his military service. However, the Veteran's flat feet and bilateral ankle disability were not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not originate during service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to any event that occurred during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss (rated at 50%), hemorrhoids (30%), tinnitus (10%), and scars on his scalp and left eyelid (noncompensable), combine to a total rating of 70%. However, the most probative medical evidence does not indicate these conditions are so severe as to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, considered alone or in combination, render him unemployable. The case is REMANDED for a VA medical examination to determine if the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is as likely due to noise exposure in service as it is from other factors. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss disability.,Effective from April 19, 2007, service connection was granted for PTSD with a 70% rating and effective TDIU based on PTSD was granted.,The Veteran's only service-connected disability is tinnitus, rated at 10%, which does not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus type II with impotency, preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of hearing problems during or within one year after service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans' Law Judge at the local office or by means of videoconference technology.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss disability or credible evidence of in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's claimed hearing loss is not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted, with the hearing loss being attributed to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus to an extent recognized as a disability for VA purposes, and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for updated medical opinions regarding his service connection claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between his current disabilities and his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and therefore the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the Appellant's service in the Army and his alleged hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining the necessary records.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and basal cell carcinoma on the left side of the nose. The claims are denied.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus, which together meet the criteria for a TDIU.