Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are presumed to have been incurred as a result of service exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and the Board finds that it is related to his military service, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted in April 2012, and his initial ratings for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees were also granted. The claims for higher initial ratings remain pending.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral cataracts are related to service. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, while service connection for bilateral cataracts secondary to diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right eye disorder, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, skin disorders, and acoustic neuroma, were denied as the evidence did not support a relationship to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with no presumption of exposure or other specific theory of connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and a left shoulder disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for recognition of the Veteran's adult son as a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining 18 years of age. Service connection was not established for hypertension, chest pain, tinnitus, high cholesterol, or rash.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a lung disability. The lung disability claim is being remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, tingling of the legs, and tinnitus. The new evidence received since the last denial is sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are causally related to active service. Service connection was denied for a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a pulmonary disorder presumed to be caused by Agent Orange exposure. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions, including hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus as there is no current disability, and the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of hearing loss and tinnitus, which are likely related to his in-service noise exposure. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with the latter being secondary to his hearing loss. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) at his local RO. The claims will be reviewed after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as readjudication based on the results.

The Board has granted service connection for myasthenia gravis and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service.