Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to active military service.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with type II diabetes mellitus, which may be presumed to have been incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for hearing loss. The appellant's tinnitus claim is considered based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board found no current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, as the Veteran's auditory thresholds did not meet the criteria for impaired hearing.,There is no competent or credible evidence showing that the Veteran currently has a diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left-ear tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year after separation. The claims are therefore denied.

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 noise exposure during active duty. The conditions are also not presumed due to a disease associated with military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to noise exposure during his active service in Vietnam. As such, these conditions have been granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right wrist disorder, lumbar and cervical spine conditions, and other issues, have been granted. The effective date for the increased ratings is February 2002.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during or as a result of his military service, including any noise exposure therein.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for a skin disorder secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, and therefore grants these claims. The new evidence submitted since the last denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for right and left knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and low back disorder are as likely as not related to his active duty service. The decision is in favor of the Veteran on both issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are not severe enough to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service. The claim for hypertension is pending and will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor can they be presumed to have been so incurred. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service exposure to noise or other causative factors.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin cancer, impaired glucose tolerance and/or diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and back injury were all granted. The Veteran was assigned a 100% disability rating for PTSD from November 26, 2007 to January 26, 2009, and a greater than 50% rating thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected due to military noise exposure, with doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.