Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and has continued since service. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to service connection for tinnitus have been met.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the conditions are likely as not due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of direct service connection for his neck, back, left knee, right knee, and thyroid conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and an increased rating for right anterior tibia injury with residual fascial defect resulting from an anterior tibialis muscle herniation are all granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 10% for his right anterior tibia injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU and prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as new and material evidence has been received. The underlying issues of service connection will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service and denied both claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy with paresthesias.

The Veteran's renal insufficiency, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are all found to be related to service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or chronic symptoms in service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA treatment records, and providing the appellant with a VA audiological examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been present since service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and has persisted. The right ankle disability is related to a preexisting condition aggravated by service, but the exact nature of its relationship remains unclear. Service connection for colon cancer is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cold injury residuals of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unemployable due to his physical limitations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, CAD, and tinnitus) have rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment for the entire appeal period.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability, and the Veteran's reports of tinnitus are inconsistent. The VA examination did not find service connection for tinnitus to be more likely related to military noise exposure.