Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective March 16, 2005.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted, and his PTSD is currently rated at the maximum allowable evaluation.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service, as there was no increase in hearing loss during service and symptoms of both conditions did not manifest continuously after service. The VA examiner concluded that current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service.

The case is being remanded due to the Veteran's desire for a hearing and the need to issue an SOC on the service connection issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling examinations, and re-adjudicating the TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for it, effective from August 9, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes during service. The claim for service connection for these conditions is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA medical examinations and consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b). The case is now being submitted to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for tinnitus and PTSD, thus the cases are dismissed.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed before the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be fully adjudicated. The Veteran's STRs from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, are requested to support his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral eye disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records. The issues include tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, a back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and PTSD).

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to evaluate his service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service acoustic trauma and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus, as his lay statements indicate that it began during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year post-service. The Board found that the Veteran did not experience chronic hearing loss symptomatology since his separation from service.