Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his military service experiences, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his reports were not credible and that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or significant threshold shifts. The Board also found that his current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and has persisted, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred in active duty due to noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is directly related to her active military service, as evidenced by her consistent reports of ringing in her ears and her medical records noting a history of tinnitus during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as there is no schedular basis for the assignment of a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and his malaria does not warrant a compensable evaluation. The claim to reopen service connection for acne was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for chloracne was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing at the Veteran's local RO in Houston, Texas. The Veteran will be notified of the date, time, and location of this hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and further review is needed.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of in-service noise exposure or verified stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA audiological examination and consideration of whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen his claim of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not attributable to in-service noise exposure, and compensably disabling tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss were not shown within one year of his discharge from active duty. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding all issues on appeal, including those related to service connection for various conditions and exposure claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The applications to reopen the claims for service connection for condyloma acuminatum (scarring of the genital area) and tinnitus have been granted, but not for hypertension with kidney transplant or low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical evidence on file, specifically regarding whether these conditions are related to his military service. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for a VA examination with a medical nexus opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have its onset in service and is granted service connection. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as additional development is needed.