Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient supporting data in the November 2008 VA examination reports, and a need for further audiological and otology examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions pre-existed service or were aggravated by service. The VA examinations did not find a medical nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service.

The Veteran's current tinnitus was not incurred in service and is not related to exposure to noise during active duty. The Board found that the Veteran did not have chronic symptoms of tinnitus in service, nor has he provided credible evidence of continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and he has an acquired psychiatric disorder that is not due to willful misconduct. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as the issue of whether new and material evidence was submitted is still under consideration.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during his active military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use both lower extremities without aid.

The Board found that the Veteran did not sustain a head injury in service and does not currently have a disability manifested by headaches or tinnitus. The claim for PTSD was remanded.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's VA medical records from 1985 to 2002. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to his military service, including exposure to loud noise during his time as a gun crew member on a Navy destroyer. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during service and is unrelated to his period of active military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and that the Veteran's reports of in-service noise exposure were not credible.

The Board has determined that additional attempts must be made to obtain missing service records, including those from the Veteran's reserve and National Guard service. The appeal is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left carpal tunnel syndromes were not incurred in or aggravated by military service. The evidence did not show a nexus between any currently existing disabilities and his period of service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left leg disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus claims. The issues of service connection for these conditions are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to schedule a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his psychiatric disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.