Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but further development is needed to address their merits.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus claim was denied in October 1990. The PTSD rating and TDIU claims were granted, but the tinnitus denial is final as no new and material evidence was received during the appeal period.

The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that are reasonably shown to be related to acoustic trauma in service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their clinical onset in service or were otherwise related to his period of service, including in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner opined against a nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between the condition and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, as his symptoms have been continuous since separation from service. The hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions regarding his mental disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be related to service, while his hypertension claim was reopened based on new evidence. The other issues remained unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues of service connection for both conditions are inextricably intertwined.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neurological disability of the upper extremities, sleep apnea, and tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board found that peripheral neuropathy was not manifested within one year after separation from service and is not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the March 2009 VA examination concluded that current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it. For tinnitus, the Board found that the evidence is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, blood clots, and hardening of the arteries. The Veteran's assertions of in-service onset and continuity were not credible, and there is no reliable post-service confirmation of any such conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of a bilateral torso disorder secondary to service-connected right knee internal derangement is remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The weight of the evidence is against a finding that these conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar spondylosis, right and left knee disabilities, tinnitus, arthritis of the shoulders and hands, a skin disability involving the toenails and feet, residuals of a fracture of the left middle finger, an eye condition, a sinus condition, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction have all been granted. The initial evaluation for type II diabetes mellitus is 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent and credible in his report of exposure to acoustic trauma during service, experiencing bilateral constant tinnitus during service, and having experienced continuous symptoms since service. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.