Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The case is being remanded for further development and examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The issues on appeal include whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss, as well as entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hand Raynaud's syndrome, a left hand scar, and a left hand gun wound, meet the schedular percentage criteria for TDIU. The Board finds an approximate balance of favorable and unfavorable evidence in favor of the Veteran's claim, granting TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's tinnitus, finding that it began during service and continued after service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The claim of increased evaluation for the back disability remains pending.

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 hearing loss for VA purposes during active duty. The Board also found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed tinnitus is not related to service.

The Board finds that tinnitus is etiologically related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus arose during active service and is granted service connection. However, his bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet VA's disability requirements and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sinusitis and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. No new evidence was presented to support other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to difficulties in obtaining service treatment records and requests for additional evidence from alternate sources. The Veteran's claims for ear problems, hypertension, tinnitus, hearing loss, and headaches are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, HIV, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus have been denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his tinnitus as it is already at the maximum schedular evaluation. Service connection has been granted for PTSD and HIV based on new evidence that was submitted after the original claims were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being returned to the RO for further review.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records and examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and the Board finds that he has a current disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to tinnitus and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are pending.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty for training during his Army Reserve service. Additional evidence is needed, and a VA medical examination may be required to determine if further assistance is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to provide adequate reasons and bases in the decision.

The Board denied service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for hiatal hernia. The Veteran's complaints were noted during service but no chronic conditions were diagnosed.,Service connection was not granted for tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing it became manifest in service.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied. The claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish that the Veteran had bilateral hearing loss during service or within one year post-service. Service connection for depression is pending.