Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were granted in January 2013. The claim for chronic headaches remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports a finding that he was exposed to acoustic trauma in service and has provided credible lay evidence of a continuity of tinnitus symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset during service and has continued since, warranting service connection. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disability meeting VA criteria for service connection, and the examiner concluded that any tinnitus was less likely than not caused by noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination and opinion are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are too numerous and severe to identify a feasible vocational goal, leading to the denial of his VR&E benefits.

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

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred as a result of herbicide exposure during active service. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset during service or within a year of separation, and there is no competent evidence linking it to military noise exposure. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, back disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, respiratory disorder (presumed due to herbicide exposure), and GERD, are not related to his active service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and determinations regarding his claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability, but denied his claim for a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss disability. The right ear hearing loss disability is not considered related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus disability is related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is therefore denied.

The Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is not related to service, and the Board finds that it was more likely due to post-service noise exposure or hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have their clinical onset in service or within the first post-service year.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be caused by in-service exposure to excessive and harmful noise, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities have been reopened, but new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,Service connection has not been established for hearing loss or tinnitus as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his cicatricial pemphigoid and tinnitus. A VA examination will be scheduled for both conditions.