Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no clear evidence of a pre-existing condition or aggravation during service. The VA examinations did not find any causal relationship between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports reopening of these claims. The Veteran is now entitled to VA benefits for his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran died in January 2008 from congestive heart failure. His service-connected disabilities did not cause his death.,The appellant seeks DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, but the claim is denied as there was no qualifying disability rating for at least ten years immediately preceding death.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and the possible need for obtaining hearing conservation records from his former employer.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of records. The issues are whether he has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his discharge from active duty and service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, eye condition, and peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities due to issues with evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to loud noise, including from helicopter engines and transmissions. The decision grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest within one year of his separation from service, and there is no medical evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service. The VA examinations conducted found no nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, joint disease, and a right hip disability. The evidence did not establish an in-service event, injury, or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and a right knee disability, as well as his attempts to reopen claims for left ear hearing loss and left knee disabilities. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be the result of service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claims for residuals of low back injury and right ankle injuries are not addressed as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection. The claim for nonservice connected pension benefits is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ear disability, other than tinnitus, to include serous otitis media was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic ear disability in service. The Board also found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a chronic headache disability or tinnitus.