Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection cannot be granted. The claim for tinnitus is also denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not begin during or as a result of his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar spine disorder are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, high frequency hearing loss, and right ear tinnitus do not render him unemployable due to his disabilities. The VA examinations indicate that the Veteran is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and left ankle disorder are not related to his military service, thus denying service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of concussive syndrome are not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen a final disallowed claim for service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a claim prior to February 22, 2007.,Both conditions were found to be related to service, but the earliest possible effective date is the date the Veteran filed his claims on February 22, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of a hearing disability for VA purposes on separation from service or within one year after discharge. The examiner concluded that the Veteran's tinnitus is more likely associated with his hearing loss than acoustic trauma during military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is less than the 60% required for a TDIU, and his service-connected PTSD and hearing loss do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent effective November 5, 2009. The other issues were either denied or not addressed in the decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is related to active service, including as due to in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim of service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The TDIU claim is denied as the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. As a result, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a left cheekbone fracture, deviated nasal septum, and chronic sinusitis were denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus had onset in service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development.

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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to need for additional development of the medical records.