Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to active military service and granted his claim for service connection.,The Board also found that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during active military service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus. The Board also found that any current hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Bilateral pes planus was presumed to have existed prior to service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not established as they are not considered presumptively related to military service.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed tinnitus is causally related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the Board grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying stressors. The Veteran is diagnosed with various psychiatric disorders and may require a VA examination to determine if any are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The VA audiology examination did not find a link between current hearing loss and tinnitus and military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for visual disability and bilateral tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a head injury. The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, to include as secondary to a head injury, are also addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to assess his PTSD symptoms. The Veteran also needs an opinion on whether his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of service connection for myelofibrosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, as well as an increased evaluation for PTSD have been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The claims are granted subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed chronic hepatitis C was caused by his willful misconduct, specifically his intravenous drug use during service. Therefore, service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as there is no medical evidence showing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during service and is granted as service connected.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran is requested to provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner or another qualified individual, considering his combat service in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist disorder, bilateral hand disorder, tinnitus, and an acquired mental disorder (PTSD). The hearing loss claim was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The right eye condition claim was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not shown to be related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability, while his tinnitus is not shown to have been caused by noise exposure in service. The Board finds that service connection cannot be granted as there is no medical evidence establishing a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination as the current evidence is insufficient to determine their etiology. The claims will be reconsidered after a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ganglion cyst of the left wrist, tinnitus, and right foot disability was denied. The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with PTSD has been granted a rating of 30% prior to July 7, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, back disability, and radicular pain of the left lower extremity. The TDIU claim based on Hepatitis C was also denied as his current rating already rendered this issue moot.