Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with a presumption of noise exposure. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining employment records and psychiatric treatment records. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being evaluated to determine if they are related to service, specifically noise exposure and head injuries. A VA examination is also needed to assess whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a current psychiatric disorder, particularly PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including obtaining service personnel records to determine if the Veteran served as a Fire Control Technician Gunnery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for an opinion regarding whether his bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to service, specifically noise exposure. The claims will be returned after further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, both individually and as a whole, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been withdrawn. The remaining claims of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation benefits are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including significant noise exposure during his various occupational specialties.

The Board has determined that the VA audiological examinations are inadequate for adjudicating the Veteran's claims and additional examination is needed. The Veteran served in Vietnam and had a military occupational specialty as a flight equipment man, which likely exposed him to noise during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, sinusitis, retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee, tinnitus, and limitation of extension of the right knee, have rendered him unemployable. The Board finds that his TDIU is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and neck disorder were not incurred or aggravated by his period of active service. The evidence did not show a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found no credible evidence of tinnitus during service or within one year after separation, and the Veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptoms are not credible. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to his active duty for training (ACDUTRA) while serving in the Kansas Army National Guard, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or any significant threshold shifts during service. The medical opinions provided do not support a connection between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service.

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 continuous symptoms since active duty. The VA examinations did not support a direct relationship between his military noise exposure and current hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is likely incurred during his period of service. The claim for a disability manifested by headaches, dizziness, and lightheadedness to include as due to an undiagnosed illness remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the medical evidence did not support a link between current hearing problems and military noise exposure.