Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus that is related to service. The Veteran's service treatment records did not show any complaints, treatments, or findings of these conditions during his military service. His current diagnoses were first noted many years after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in April 2009 is insufficient to determine if there is a causal connection between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his period of service, including his claimed in-service noise exposure. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for dermatitis is granted as it began during a period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and thus meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but left ear hearing loss remains pending as the evidence is not sufficient to meet the threshold criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims, specifically concerning the relationship between current conditions and service. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service acoustic trauma, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and additional development is needed, including verification of service dates and obtaining STRs. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and low back disability will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the appeal can be adjudicated, including verifying the Veteran's claimed stressor and obtaining medical opinions regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran met the schedular criteria for a TDIU on October 30, 2009, and his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date of the TDIU rating is set at October 30, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II based on presumed exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found the VA examinations inadequate, but a new examination did not provide sufficient rationale to support a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable due to his disabilities, as he has maintained employment for over 38 years without any reported issues related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disorder are all granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current diagnoses of tinnitus but not bilateral hearing loss or a right knee disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not have a bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus during his lifetime, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The evidence does not indicate any current myelodysplastic syndrome or vertigo related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether these conditions are related to active military service. The psychiatric disorder claim remains pending as it was not addressed by the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure in service, while his left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The case has been remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current hearing loss conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service, as there is no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service. The VA audiological examination did not find any current hearing disability.