Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their clinical onset in or are otherwise related to active service, and were not manifested within one year of his discharge from active service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an extra-schedular evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a left little finger disability manifested by pain and tenderness, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as his request for an increased rating for left tibia fracture residuals, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and his appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and post-concussion syndrome are all service-connected due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and a diagnosed L4 upper endplate Schmorl's node and disc space narrowing at L5-S1 have been granted service connection. The Veteran's sleep disorder claim has not met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The issue of an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to noise exposure during active service. The Veteran's current diagnosed depression is not shown to have had its clinical onset during service, thus service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Additional VA examination is required.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and potentially scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to in-service noise exposure. Headaches have not been linked to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to noise exposure during his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete information and need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma during active service, and he currently has diagnosed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss with continuous symptoms since service separation. Tinnitus is also linked to his military service. Therefore, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.