Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, do not render him unemployable due to their combined effect. The VA examiners found that the Veteran has significant occupational impairment from nonservice-connected conditions such as shortness of breath, low back condition, and memory loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no credible evidence linking any current disabilities to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran currently suffers from these conditions, which are believed to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to acoustic trauma during active military service and thus grants her claim for service connection. The evidence does not support a finding of a current bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with noise exposure being a significant factor. As such, these conditions have been granted as service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of in-service onset or aggravation, despite credible assertions of noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus, including whether it is related to his military service or a period of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA during ROTC Summer Camp in 1950.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to determine the current extent and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus due to inadequate examination and need for further development.

The Board found no evidence linking the cause of the Veteran's death to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension, residuals of frostbite of the feet, and residuals of frostbite of the face. The Veteran's current diagnoses of left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are in equipoise with the opinion that these conditions were not incurred during active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstetric problems, surgery complications and pregnancy complications, tinnitus, and right posterior Achilles tendon bursitis (Haglund's). The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service records do not show hearing loss disability or tinnitus during his active duty, and there is no evidence of a nexus between current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus and his military service. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of these claims, including obtaining service treatment records for the Veteran's active duty period and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO assigned a noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss effective from October 6, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of these claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence supporting these conditions.