Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes and thus cannot establish service connection. The claims for sleep apnea, depression, and Meniere's syndrome are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a separate, compensable evaluation for tinnitus is dismissed as his appeal was not timely filed and he did not submit new and material evidence within the one-year appeal period. Additionally, there was no CUE in the March 1974 Board decision regarding the denial of a separate, compensable evaluation for tinnitus aurium.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Meniere's disease with right ear hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence that she filed a formal or informal claim prior to December 2007, which is when her increased rating claim for hearing loss was received. The earliest possible effective date would be December 13, 2006, but the RO assigned February 26, 2007 as it was within one year of that date and indicated in a private treatment record that she had lost essentially all her hearing from the right ear due to Meniere's disease.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are supported by competent medical evidence, and his testimony regarding in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms since service is credible. Therefore, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 6260. The appeal for a higher initial rating is denied.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both considered to have onset during service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to establish chronicity or continuity of care. The VA examiners concluded that the current disabilities were more likely caused by occupational and recreational noise exposure in civilian life.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their clinical onset in service, nor are they otherwise related to active duty. The VA examinations conducted found no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss or tinnitus and military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate consideration of his service connection contentions, including an in-service noise exposure incident. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as the private treatment records have not been obtained.

The Board denied a separate, compensable evaluation for tinnitus associated with high frequency deafness of the left ear in March 1974. The decision is being reviewed on the basis of CUE.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there was no credible evidence of noise exposure during service. The VA examiner considered a more accurate history of post-service noise exposure but still concluded that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is related to his service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The other claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that residuals of a cold injury of the bilateral hands are related to service. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during his military service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition. The issue of higher evaluation for PTSD and depressive disorder remains pending as it was not addressed by the March 2010 rating decision.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus, finding that the claim to reopen was received on July 31, 2009 and thus the effective date is set at that time.