Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, probable myocardial infarction, was not caused or substantially contributed to by his service-connected conditions (COPD, hearing loss, and tinnitus).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability for which service connection can be granted, and there is no medical evidence linking his tinnitus to service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss disability. The claim for tinnitus is also denied due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure. The upper respiratory disorder claim and TMJ claim are remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, with doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and a thyroid disability have been denied as these conditions are not presumed to be related to his military service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted.,Service connection was established for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (to include posttraumatic stress disorder) due to its presumptive relationship with his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there was no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease of the ears, including exposure to loud noises or acoustic trauma, or even in-service symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection, as they were noted to have existed prior to his entry into active military duty.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for cervical vertigo was granted, but the effective date remains February 1, 2010.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his TDIU was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms since service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the previous VA examinations did not consider all relevant evidence in the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were granted with an effective date of May 29, 1997. The Board found that the additional evidence received after the initial denial supported these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to locate the Veteran's service treatment records and obtain any relevant VA clinical records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current residuals of trauma to the right long (middle) finger is related to his military service and grants this claim. The issues of service connection for bilateral ear disorder, including hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, specifically exposure to excessive noise during combat operations. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a mood disorder, degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, chronic tinnitus, and a chronic headache disorder are not addressed as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.