Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran must be provided with a new VA audiological examination based on all pertinent evidence in the claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to noise trauma in an artillery unit. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to noise exposure in service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability or a nexus to service. The claim for PTSD was remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a head injury or TBI were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding no competent and credible evidence linking his current condition to in-service noise exposure. The VA audiologist opined that the Veteran's tinnitus is less likely than not due to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed conditions and their relationship to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right talus fracture, right knee arthritis, and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a supplemental opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and whether it is related to service or his service-connected hearing loss disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The claim for hepatitis C was also denied as new and material evidence had not been presented.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss did not begin in service or are otherwise related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's prostatitis has been granted service connection, and the Board is not addressing the other issues in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disorder, and blood disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA audiological examination and clarifying opinions from private audiologists.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, as there is evidence of current disabilities and in-service exposure to noise. The benefit of doubt rule was applied due to the equipoise of evidence.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection.