Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there was no evidence of a hearing disability for VA purposes on separation from service or within one year of separation. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not have sensorineural hearing loss caused by noise exposure in the early 1960s.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a copy of the SSA decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen his previously denied claims. The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or low back disability and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to noise exposure in service, as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms or a current disability within one year of separation. The Board finds that the Veteran did not experience continuous symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus after service separation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable and considering his claim of entitlement to an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss. The Board also found credible the Veteran's testimony regarding his long history of tinnitus since service discharge.

The Board found that the Veteran's current leg complaints are not related to his in-service lower leg contusions and denied service connection for residuals of contusions of bilateral lower legs. The other claims were also denied as there was no evidence linking the claimed conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with the onset likely occurring during active duty. As such, these conditions have been granted as service connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset within a year of service separation or were otherwise related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by military service, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to noise exposure during service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including choreiform movement disorder and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to his education and occupational experience.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service exposure to hazardous noise.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,A bilateral hearing loss disability was not shown during service or for many years thereafter, and the weight of the probative evidence is against a finding that a current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to active military service.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected low back pain with herniated nucleus pulpous L5-S1, now diagnosed as status post L5-S1 left hemilaminectomy, foramenotomy, L5-S1 microdiscectomy with advanced degenerative disc disease. The reduction from 40 to 20 percent was found to be void ab initio.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling of hearings before a Decision Review Officer and a Travel Board. The Veteran's claims will be further considered based on this new information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The decision regarding bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending as it was not adjudicated in this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, a lumbar spine disorder, a right elbow disorder, gastritis, and PTSD. The RO has denied these claims in part and remanded the case for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.