Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service. The most probative evidence indicated these conditions are more likely related to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an examination to address the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a review of any indications of chronic interstitial lung disease (ILD).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to evaluate the Veteran's tinnitus and right knee disorders. The case will be returned to the AMC/RO for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to loud noise from artillery. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues on appeal are whether service connection should be granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, with the Board finding that it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examiner with an opinion on the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be service-connected as they were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, right arm fracture residuals, and tinnitus) are considered to render him incapable of participating in any regular substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete rationale.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and is related to noise exposure, thus granting service connection for tinnitus. The claim for bilateral hearing loss will be remanded as the VA examination was inadequate.

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

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, which satisfies the statutory requirements for TDIU. However, the weight of medical opinion and other evidence indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment after February 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for medical examinations to assess the Veteran's claimed disabilities.