Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and missing medical records, particularly those from Exxon Corp. related to hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable as a result of his disabilities, given his educational background and experience.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for tinnitus or bilateral eye disability, other than retinitis pigmentosis. The Veteran's hearing was also denied service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural issue with the hearing, and the Veteran is entitled to another video-conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are due to exposure to loud noises during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss prior to July 6, 2013 were denied. The Board found that the current disability levels did not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea are both granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service noise exposure leading to current disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, as they began during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service. The VA examiners concluded that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are more likely due to occupational and recreational noise exposure, and possibly sinus surgery.

The Veteran's current tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to his military service. The claim for type II diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence of its manifestation within one year post-service, nor a continuity of symptoms since then.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of a left hamstring injury, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The right ankle and foot disorder is found to be as likely as not related to military service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The Board found that the Veteran had some degree of hearing loss during his active service, which is now established as a current disability for VA purposes. Additionally, there is credible evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss to his in-service acoustic trauma. For tinnitus, the Veteran's consistent report of ringing in his ears since service was considered sufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the current record.