Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of an injury to the mouth, finding that it is as likely as not related to service. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied due to lack of in-service evidence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, which are currently considered service-connected. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss and/or tinnitus are causally related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his exposure to noise during active service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU remains in remand status due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an audiological examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied as he did not submit a formal or informal claim prior to January 25, 2005.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective January 7, 2010. His tinnitus remains at a maximum of 10 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and low back strain with degenerative changes and instability, and bilateral sciatica are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The other conditions are also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for kidney disorder, left ear hearing loss, left ear tinnitus, and eye disorder (secondary to diabetes mellitus) as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link between the conditions and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service and credible lay and medical evidence did not support a finding that they began in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected tinnitus, finding that the current schedular evaluation adequately addresses his disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as his reports of continuous symptoms since service are not credible and there is no medical evidence linking his current tinnitus to his military noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and Meniere's disease. The claim for new and material evidence to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were all found to be related to her service. The Board granted the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have onset during service and is granted service connection.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a VA examination to address the etiology of his peripheral neuropathy and thoracic spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran experienced non-combat and combat-related acoustic trauma during active service, resulting in current hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The Board also found evidence of a thoracic spine injury related to aircraft ejection seat training, leading to current disability.