Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The claims are being remanded due to inadequacies in the examination report, including lack of comment on the relationship between current hearing loss and service exposure, consideration of pathologic changes related to early noise exposure, and additional medical comment addressing tinnitus and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, including noise exposure. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of his claimed conditions, including hearing loss in the left ear and tinnitus. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to his military service, while bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active duty service as a result of in-service acoustic trauma, and thus granted service connection for tinnitus. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and other issues were denied. The decision does not address the specific conditions or theories of service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service and granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, which constitutes a full grant of the benefits sought on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his hearing loss is not. The Veteran reported experiencing tinnitus since service and provided credible statements about acoustic trauma during basic training. However, there was no evidence of a causal connection between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The claim for service connection for these conditions is therefore denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, including exposure to aircraft engine noise. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be so disabling as to prevent him from dressing himself and result in physical incapacity which requires care or assistance on a regular basis. The Board finds that the Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to symptoms of diffuse bilateral upper and lower extremity weakness and dysphagia resulting in an inability to ambulate and difficulty with activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, personal hygiene, and medication management.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and providing proper notice of the applicable regulations pertaining to claims brought under a theory of secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus in December 2010, citing the absence of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was dismissed without prejudice due to insufficient pleading.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, effectively dismissing the case.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active military service, including exposure to noise during combat operations. Service connection is granted for these conditions.