Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss) do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder due to a lack of credible evidence linking the tinnitus to service or any other condition. The VA audiologist found that the Veteran's reported tinnitus was more likely related to stress or medication, and could not be definitively linked to service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service, despite his reported noise exposure. The most persuasive evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability does not meet VA criteria for a service-connected condition. However, as to his tinnitus claim, the evidence is at least in equipoise and thus grants service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus in either ear, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, but his hearing loss is not. The examiner found no evidence of in-service hearing difficulty and noted a configuration of current hearing loss that did not indicate military origin.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened.,The Board has determined that the newly submitted evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such during service and the current disabilities are not related to military noise exposure. The claim for increased rating for right shoulder disability is referred to the RO for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to an incomplete examination and the need for a complete opinion regarding the relationship between his current tinnitus and service or his service-connected hearing loss.

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

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for tinnitus and has determined that there is sufficient evidence to establish a causal nexus between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to noise exposure sustained during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for a new VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further review and issuance of a statement of the case (SOC) addressing certain claims, including those related to higher evaluations and earlier effective dates. The Veteran will be provided with an opportunity to address these issues in his appeals.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to his active duty service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his period of service and is related to in-service exposure to loud noises, thus granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran seeks service connection for tinnitus, which he contends is related to his now service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of any current tinnitus found to be present.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current conditions are related to his military noise exposure.