Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The VA examination indicated that any hearing loss and tinnitus were more likely due to noise exposure after service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and adjustment disorder with somnambulance were initially granted in December 2003, but the effective date was set at November 8, 2003. The Veteran appealed for a higher rating and an earlier effective date. The Board found that the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to July 1, 2004 were not met, while finding that from July 1, 2004, the criteria for a disability rating of 100 percent were met.

The Board has ordered a new examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, specifically exposure to loud noise from weapons, tanks, and aircraft. The current opinion is inadequate as it does not consider the regulatory presumption of in-service onset for certain diseases.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service as a combat medic. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms within one year post-service. The claims have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and his PTSD rating was increased to 100% effective October 7, 2010. His patellofemoral syndrome with chondromalacia of the right knee remains at a 10% rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of January 15, 2008. The Board found that the correct effective date should be August 22, 2001.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service, with the August 2012 VA opinion providing a detailed rationale for this conclusion. The hearing loss is not considered due to military noise exposure as it was normal at separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during or as a result of active military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and to consider all recent VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus starting in service are not credible, and the examiner should determine if there is at least a 50% probability that these conditions had their clinical onset during service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is at least 90%, but the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms since service. The VA examiners found it less likely than not that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the current disability is due to a pre-existing high frequency hearing loss that was aggravated by active service. Service connection for tinnitus has also been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to December 14, 2010. The effective date for service connection of PTSD was set back to June 29, 2007 due to reopening of the claim on new evidence. Service connection for fainting spells and tinnitus was denied, but service connection for dysosmia (claimed as loss of smell) was granted.