Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his tinnitus is not service-connected. The claims for back disability and PTSD are also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically duty on the avionics flight line. The Veteran has current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus which is at least as likely as not caused by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to noise during active duty in Vietnam. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his period of service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that his lay assertions are probative and persuasive on whether he has had bilateral tinnitus since service.

The Board has determined that tinnitus is at least as likely as not incurred in service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection for tinnitus. The issues of right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and low back disorder are remanded due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or housebound status.

The Board has determined that effective dates of October 17, 2011 for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and February 28, 2012 for cold weather injury of right foot and peripheral neuropathy of left lower extremity are warranted based on the Veteran's intent to apply for benefits.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the schedular criteria were adequate to rate his disability, and there were no related factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Veteran has withdrawn all pending claims and appeals. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these matters as the appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, left wrist ganglion cyst, multiple muscle and joint pain, right leg bone condition, tinnitus, and back disability as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims. The Veteran's current back disability is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a VA examination to assess his current PTSD symptoms and their impact on his daily life.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease. The earliest clinical record of complaints about hearing loss was 12 years after separation from service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating. The Veteran will need to undergo examinations related to his bilateral CTS, psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.