Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development of his claims, including VA examinations and the provision of a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and tinnitus, as the September 2009 VA audiology examination is inadequate.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted service connection based on a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.,Prior to April 14, 2011, his bilateral hearing loss was not compensable. Since then, it has been rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for sinus infection residuals including right anterior ethmoidectomy residuals and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to military service, and he is granted service connection. For his bilateral hearing loss, the initial rating assigned was not compensable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, warranting the grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate etiological opinions and potential exposure during active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his period of ACDUTRA service, and grants service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim requires further development as there are conflicting medical opinions.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have residuals of cold injuries to his left and right feet, as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or post-service. The claim for tinnitus is granted based on a finding of equipoise.,While the Veteran has provided credible testimony regarding his current tinnitus, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a link between his military service and this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a hearing disability during service and the current disabilities are not related to service. The VA examination did not find any hearing loss disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his tinnitus, including whether it is related to service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a video-conference hearing, and he was unable to attend the scheduled hearing.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD-related memory loss, have rendered him unemployable consistent with his education and occupational experience. Therefore, the Board grants a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including audiometric and scar examinations to determine if service connection is warranted for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a compensable rating for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right chest.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for hemorrhoids due to lack of evidence establishing a link between the condition and service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and arthralgia of the back and right wrist/shoulder were granted. The effective date is not specified as it was a direct grant without reopening an old claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus and determined that it is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran will receive a noncompensable disability rating for this condition.