Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his active service, and the Board finds that he did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, as there was no evidence of such during service and no continuity of symptoms. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely caused by acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to exposure to noise in service. The Board finds that the Veteran did not have chronic symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and there is no evidence of continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are attributable to noise exposure during his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA), as well as his job responsibilities during those periods. The case is therefore being remanded to obtain this information.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination report and needs further development, including obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a TDIU examination. The appellant's service-connected disabilities are to be considered in combination with his other conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that the current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for prostate disorder, tinnitus, scar (claimed as residual of back injury), back disability, kidney condition, and peripheral neuropathy of lower extremities. The VA audiologist concluded that the appellant's post-service tinnitus was not related to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for tinnitus and traumatic injury to right foot metatarsals 1 and 2 with chronic strain to include numbness of great toe. The appellant's PTSD was found to be 70 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Service connection for both conditions is established based on a relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to noise exposure in service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities do not warrant a higher evaluation, as they are currently rated at their maximum allowable levels under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service noise exposure and the relationship between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA audiometric examination and requesting medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service. Bilateral hearing loss is granted, while tinnitus is denied.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that her current condition is not related to noise exposure during military service and there is no credible evidence linking her present tinnitus to service.