Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and foot disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining records from the U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office regarding an engine room accident in 2001-2002.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no indication that he was diagnosed with any tinnitus during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to his active service, with the VA audiologist opining that military noise exposure at least contributed to his condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that he does not have a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is related to his current condition. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that the appellant's BHL disability and tinnitus are related to his active duty for training, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is related to his in-service exposure to loud noise. The initial rating for bilateral hearing loss remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his active service, including noise exposure during military service. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with a 10 percent initial rating for PTSD effective from April 10, 2009.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to exposure to noise in service, and the Board finds that these conditions did not manifest during or within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board determined that the Veteran's claimed residuals of a head injury are not related to his period of active service and denied the claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches, which he claims are related to his service-connected tinnitus. The VA has not provided a thorough examination or opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed headaches.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty, and the Board finds that he has established a continuity of symptomatology since service. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are associated with in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's disability manifested by tinnitus is found to be due to disease or injury that was incurred in active military service, and the Board finds that extending the benefit of doubt to the Veteran results in a grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to noise exposure during active service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.