Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service records and scheduling a VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun in service and has persisted, warranting service connection. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as further development is required.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and has continued since then, granting the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current tinnitus is causally related to his military service, including his conceded in-service noise exposure. The appeal will be returned after further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not causally related to military service, as evidenced by the lack of in-service noise exposure and the presence of a progressive hearing loss with no specific etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a head injury, residuals of a right eye injury, and lung disability (claimed as COPD) are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus should be remanded due to an issue with the VA examiner's opinion regarding the nature and cause of his tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred in service, and the claim for hearing loss is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim will be readjudicated after all actions are taken.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to outstanding VA medical records, an addendum to a November 2009 VA audiology examination report, and further development of the issues.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in active service and will resolve the benefit of the doubt in favor of the Veteran, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not manifest in service or to a degree of 10 percent within one year of separation, and are unrelated to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is due to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of a higher rating for his right shoulder sprain and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and his PTSD has been rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to noise from firearms and explosions. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus related to his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not to have had their onset in service or are otherwise casually related to active service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board finds the evidence in relative equipoise with regard to whether his bilateral hearing loss and skin cancer are related to service, but remands for further development regarding occupational exposure.