Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's hearing loss or tinnitus were incurred during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss that manifested during or as a result of active military service, but finds in favor of granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have their onset during active service or for many years thereafter, and they are not causally related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his active service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to noise exposure during active military service. Service connection for a low back disability was denied as the current condition is not etiologically related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying periods of active duty and inactive duty training, scheduling VA examinations to address left shoulder disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, and tinnitus claims, and addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to evaluate his service-connected gastrointestinal disability. The Veteran also requested a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of VA treatment records.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as they are more likely due to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of such in his STRs or post-service treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran has current residuals of a right leg and knee injury, specifically venous insufficiency and varicose veins related to service. Bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. Tinnitus was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service.,Diabetes mellitus, type II, is not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, with the onset of both occurring many years after separation from active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 28, 2006 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus with a 10 percent disability rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 30 percent for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, a maximum of 10 percent for tinnitus, or any higher rating for his right ankle and right tibia/fibula disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability have been evaluated as noncompensable ratings since November 19, 2007. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.