Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, thus service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD or an acquired mental disorder other than PTSD, to include anxiety disorder NOS. The Veteran's claimed conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to exposure to acoustic trauma in active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements regarding acoustic trauma are credible and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as they are not related to his military service. The claim for thoracolumbar spine condition was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to the finding that his MVA was a result of willful misconduct. The Board is remanding the case for further clarification and examination.

The Board has vacated the previous decisions and ordered a new hearing before the Travel Board to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus on a direct-incurrence basis and entitlement to a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, prior to February 23, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for ischemic heart disease are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for hypertension, denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an eye disability manifested by loss of vision, or a cardiovascular accident/stroke.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not begin during service and is unrelated to his military service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's SFW of the left buttock does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent, and his PTSD is currently evaluated as 70 percent disabling.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to active service and has been granted service connection.,For his fungal infection disability, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection. The claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence. As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of rationale in the opinions provided.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for strep throat and running ears are dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss or tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during his period of service and the Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports a finding in favor of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the inability to conduct an adequate VA audiological examination at a VA medical facility. The AOJ must attempt to obtain documentation of any notice provided to the Veteran regarding his option to pay for security and his response to that notice, or if no such documentation exists, seek a supplemental opinion from the November 2011 VA examiner.