Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to events in service, warranting their grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service personnel records and missing in-service treatment records. The Veteran's period of Army National Guard service must be verified, as well as any ACDUTRA periods where he may have been exposed to noise. Additionally, a VA audiological examination is needed to determine if his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military service, including possible exposure during ACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential issues with obtaining service treatment records, as well as the need for additional medical examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a ratable hearing loss disability under VA standards and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus was also denied as there is no evidence of current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA audiological examiner regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service exposure to noise. The Veteran's representative submitted additional evidence in support of his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of ear infections, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, is being remanded due to the need for further action by the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss was withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and PTSD are being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, as well as his claim for an increased rating for right ear hearing loss. The Board also determined that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen his claims of service connection for PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to his military service, and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The claims for traumatic brain injury with headaches and blurred vision, residuals of right finger injury, and irritable bowel syndrome are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it had its onset during active service. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be service-connected due to the in-service noise exposure. The Veteran has no other conditions or issues related to service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder, and for a TDIU were remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin in service, were not shown to be related to active duty noise exposure, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Board finds that there is no competent evidence of a medical nexus between his current bilateral hearing loss and active service. The Veteran's tinnitus was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently shown bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including noise exposure during active duty. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.