Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, specifically the significant noise exposure during his military career as a Morse System Operator. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for tinnitus and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine were dismissed as his timely notice of disagreement with these effective dates was not filed within one year of notification.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 based on VA treatment received in December 2001 are denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing that the disabilities were caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of the VA.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, but his right ear hearing loss and tuberculosis are not. The case must be remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and medical opinions regarding the current status of his left ear hearing loss, knee disabilities, and asthma.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension began in service and has been continuously present since then. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, was initially demonstrated many years after service and is not shown to be causally related to his active service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and osteoarthritis of the left thumb are not shown to be causally related to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to in-service noise exposure. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the nature of his noise exposure during service and whether it resulted in current disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not begin during his military service and is not related to any in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is linked to his time in the military.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The VA examiner found no link between the current hearing loss and tinnitus and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation from May 10, 2004 to July 4, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus and TDIU was denied as his service-connected conditions do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher evaluation is not available.,The Veteran did not incur bilateral hearing loss during or as a result of service. His lay assertions regarding continuity of symptomatology are not credible.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to TDIU and denied claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and coronary artery disease. The partial grant includes a compensable disability rating for a burn scar of the right thigh and initial increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and cannot be considered secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at his scheduled Travel Board hearing. The claim will be returned for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.