Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus at his separation examination. The current conditions are more likely due to occupational noise exposure and/or the natural aging process.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left eye disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ, effective from November 17, 2008. The earlier effective date is granted as the report of contact in November 2008 can be construed as an informal claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset in service or within one year of service, and were not caused by or otherwise related to his active military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, it denied these claims on their merits.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty service. However, there is no evidence linking the Veteran's tinnitus to his period of service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a current disability, as indicated by medical records showing carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board also found that the Veteran's current condition is related to his period of service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination to assess the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, including consideration of continuity of symptomatology since the mid-to-late 1970s.

The Board has determined that additional assistance is needed to locate relevant private treatment records and will remand the case for further development.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a vocational rehabilitation specialist opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings warranted due to the application of the rating criteria. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating or separate schedular ratings for each ear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with noise exposure being the primary factor.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bursitis of the left shoulder, cervical spine arthritis, tinnitus, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unemployable.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is not related to his active service and concluding that the preponderance of evidence is against this claim.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and active military service.