Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board finds that additional development is necessary for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's service personnel records should also be requested on remand.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected and a higher rating is granted.,For the left leg scar, no increase in rating is warranted as it does not cause any limitation of motion. For the left buttock scar, no compensable rating is assigned due to lack of limitation of motion. The right forearm muscle disability with numbness alone does not warrant a 20% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an audiological evaluation and a more thorough examination of the Veteran's tinnitus claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board finds insufficient evidence to establish a secondary service connection for the left ankle, foot, and leg conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he attributes to noise exposure during service. The Board has determined that a new examination is needed due to the inadequacy of the June 2008 VA audiology examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, neck and shoulder disabilities, and hepatitis C. The evidence submitted since the final decisions is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

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 hearing problems or noise exposure. The current disabilities have been attributed to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that chronic cervical and trapezius muscle strain and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine had their onset during active service, granting service connection for these conditions.,Meniere's disease was incurred during active service, as it had its clinical onset in 1970.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his military service and continues to this day, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current conditions were not incurred during active duty or training.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its inception during active service or for many years thereafter and is not causally related to his active service. As a result, the claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and considering all evidence of record. The claims will be adjudicated in order, with the hearing loss claim being addressed first.

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

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his active duty service. The case is being remanded for further development including a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The cervical spine disability claim was remanded to the RO. Other rating claims remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a January 2010 VA examiner.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is considered to be incurred during active duty due to noise exposure. The issue of a higher initial rating for right ear hearing loss has been withdrawn by the Veteran.