Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that the current conditions were related to his military service or exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied his claim for service connection. The Board also noted that there was no evidence showing tinnitus, leading to its denial.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, varicose veins of the right leg, chronic duodenal ulcer, varicose veins of the left leg, and tinnitus, are considered in determining his employability. The case is REMANDED for a VA examination to evaluate the impact of these conditions on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for aid and attendance or being housebound. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable. The case will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a skin disorder and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 8, 2006 for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and ringworm of the bilateral legs was denied as there is no indication that he submitted a formal or informal claim within one year of his discharge from service. The earliest possible effective date is December 8, 2006, the day the Veteran's claims were received by the RO.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, but he does not have a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus to his active service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 21, 2002 and April 19, 2006 for service connection of generalized anxiety disorder with bipolar disorder and major depression, and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal was also reopened on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and traumatic brain injury contributed substantially or materially to his death, which occurred due to a motorcycle accident. The decision grants entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no credible evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and his military service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's death was found to be due to ischemic heart disease, specifically coronary artery disease. The Board granted service connection for this condition as the result of exposure to herbicides for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection, as there was no evidence of hearing impairment meeting VA standards within one year of discharge from active duty. The Board concluded that the conditions are less than 50 percent likely to be attributable to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic maxillary sinusitis with occasional tinnitus of the right ear is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective December 16, 2010. The Board found that she was entitled to a compensable rating prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.