Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the claim for TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular bases due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated, along with additional evidence from SSA.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 30, 1971 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus as the Veteran's claim was received within one year following his discharge from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are a result of or related to his active service. Service connection for these conditions is granted. The claim for left knee disability must be denied due to lack of competent evidence linking any current left knee disorder to service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no credible evidence of a nexus between his in-service acoustic trauma and current disabilities. The preponderance of the evidence does not support granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding the Veteran's lay assertions of in-service noise exposure and symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and ulcers, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service. Service connection was also granted for low back disability, but with a negative opinion regarding its onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's low back disability is considered to be due to normal aging and genetic predisposition rather than in-service injury.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus has been remanded due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The reopened claim is now before the RO or AMC for further adjudication.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected as it is related to his in-service noise exposure during combat.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his active duty service, including exposure to noise during combat.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, as there was no evidence of a permanent threshold shift in either ear at discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are associated with his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and back disability did not have onset during service or are otherwise related to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current tinnitus did not begin during service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.