Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, respiratory condition (COPD and asbestosis), right great toe injury residuals, and left hip condition. The decision also noted that his PTSD symptoms did not meet criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records, clarifying his representative, and providing a new VA audiometric examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service treatment records and SSA disability records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, but the VA examiner found it at least as likely as not that his tinnitus began during military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure from gunfire, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a current VA audiometric examination and review of the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for tinnitus remains pending as his appeal does not address this issue directly. His claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus is granted and the effective date is set at May 6, 2002.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin tags, tinnitus, chronic laryngitis, and warts on the finger and thumb were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a TDIU. The Veteran will be provided with VA audiological examinations, and his claim for a TDIU will be readjudicated.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Veteran reported experiencing inservice noise exposure from anti-aircraft guns, small arms fire, and military planes, which he believes caused his current tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, but granted service connection for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found no current diagnoses of hypertension, right knee disorder, back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The Veteran's service treatment records and post-service medical records do not show any signs or symptoms of these conditions during or after his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence supporting a current disability or a link between his military service and these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist was withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision. The remaining issues have been addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities, and determining whether he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).