Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied these claims on the merits. The evidence does not establish a nexus between the current disabilities and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure. The skin disorder claim remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his military service. The claim for varicose veins of the right lower extremity with stasis dermatitis is also granted as new and material evidence has been received.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his active service, as there was no evidence of chronic symptoms or injury during service. The Veteran did not sustain a disease or injury (other than acoustic trauma) in service, nor did he experience continuous symptoms post-service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities are adequately contemplated by the applicable diagnostic criteria, and he does not meet the requirements for a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions alone.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration due to incomplete records, including those from the U.S. Army Hospital in Nuremberg and VA audiological records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination regarding the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability, specifically addressing his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred in active duty due to noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and recurrent tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes, and the Veteran was found to be less than credible with regard to his assertions of continuity of symptoms. The Board finds that service connection cannot be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the left groin, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. However, service connection is granted for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset during active duty.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a video conference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include reopening his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as well as claims for tinnitus, skin cancer, and PTSD.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarification on the cause of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as to ensure all relevant VA treatment records are obtained.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely attributable to his military service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as the VA has not received audiogram results.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, with the exception of intermittent tinnitus reported since service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have continuous hearing loss or tinnitus during service and that his current conditions are more likely due to post-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The right knee and left knee disabilities were granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to noise during active duty in Southwest Asia. Service connection was not established for the thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his military service, resolving all doubts in favor of the claimant.