Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of chronic conditions during service or within one year after separation. The VA examinations did not establish a link between his current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete service medical records and the need for additional examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, and denied both claims.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as related to active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus. The RO previously denied this claim in November 1997, finding no evidence of tinnitus during service or within one year post-service. The October 2008 VA examination concluded that the Veteran's tinnitus is less likely caused by noise exposure from military service.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant or his authorized representative.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The issue of service connection for tinnitus remains pending as it is not clear whether it is related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and there is no presumption of service connection due to exposure to noise. The right knee disorder and sinusitis issues are pending and will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for verification of his periods of National Guard and Reserve service, as well as additional medical records. A VA examination is also needed to address the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be secondary to his service-connected hearing loss and exposure to high intensity sound. The Board grants service connection for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including noise exposure during his time as an air freight specialist on the flight line.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issue of increased evaluation for service-connected otitis media with bilateral hearing loss. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is dismissed as moot due to the assignment of a 100% schedular evaluation for rheumatic heart disease, status post aortic valve replacement. Service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating by reason of individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding her employment status and functional impairment caused by her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction associated with prostate cancer, are sufficient to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, do not render him unemployable due to his ability to control symptoms in order to maintain employment. The VA examiner found the Veteran's presentation of symptoms exaggerated.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hearing loss or tinnitus, and that there was no direct service connection for any of the claimed conditions.