Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is caused by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and grants service connection for tinnitus on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to an outstanding request for a video-conference hearing. The appeal will be held in abeyance until further notice.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus and it was determined that the right ankle disability is not related to service. The Veteran's current right ankle pain is considered a separate issue from her service-connected left ankle sprain.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current ear disability during his period of service or for years following, and thus denied service connection for bilateral ear conditions as residuals of inservice tympanic membrane perforation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease with hearing loss and tinnitus has been denied as new and material evidence was not received within one year of the December 1995 rating decision. The Board also found that there is no evidence to support a finding of aggravation during active duty.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for borderline personality disorder is denied because personality disorders are not diseases or injuries subject to service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not shown to be caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are found to have onset during service. Service connection is also granted for the skin disability, characterized as seborrheic dermatitis/folliculitis of the scalp, with a rating of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or current hearing loss within one year post-service. The VA medical opinion found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not caused by or a result of exposure to high levels of noise while on active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, with the benefit of doubt given in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has determined that his claim for a TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current knee and hand disabilities did not begin during or were otherwise caused by his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including traumatic brain injury, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, sleep disorder, bilateral elbow disability, hearing loss of the left ear, tinnitus, cold weather injuries of the upper and lower extremities, are not supported by the evidence. The Board has determined that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a laceration to the right hand/palm are causally related to his military service. The claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during his active military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently evaluated at a 10 percent rating, and there is no basis for an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their clinical onset in active service, and neither may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board also found no causal connection between the Veteran's asbestosis and his active service.