Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure. The issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss remains pending and will be addressed on remand.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating from January 1, 2007 is 60 percent. The medical evidence does not demonstrate that his service-connected epilepsy, left shoulder rotator cuff tear, L5-S1 degenerative disc disease, and tinnitus alone render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran does not have a low back disability that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service. The Board finds that he does not have bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of his active military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, left wrist neuropathy, and right wrist neuropathy have been granted initial noncompensable ratings. The claim for tinnitus has also been granted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarifying medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any hearing loss and tinnitus present in the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to exposure to acoustic trauma in service, and granted service connection for this condition. The other issues of bilateral hearing loss and nasal disorder are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, residuals of typhoid fever, liver disease, sepsis, right kidney removal, and hypertension. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be as likely as not attributable to his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as residuals of lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD were denied. The claim to reopen a previously denied claim of residuals of right ear trauma was also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorder, left upper extremity disorder to include as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are not supported by the evidence. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure and denied service connection for COPD as not related to service, including chemical or asbestos exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted service connection. The right ankle disability, Haglund's deformity of the left foot, and bilateral knee disabilities are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 1, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining employment, thus a total rating for compensation based upon individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an increased rating for low back disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his tinnitus claim is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and attempting to verify a reported near miss from a rocket or mortar while serving in Vietnam. The claims will be readjudicated after this development.