Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's current diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not found to be related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms during the presumptive period. The Board finds that the Veteran did not have a current disability at the time of his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral pes cavus have been assigned the maximum available ratings. The Board found no legal basis for assigning an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and denied entitlement to a compensable initial rating for bilateral pes cavus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have arisen during active service due to exposure to loud noise, while his hearing loss disability was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of the hips, shoulders and knees, are found to preclude substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical degenerative disc disease with disc herniation, headaches, and bilateral shoulder condition are not considered to be related to his active service.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the etiology of any right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to service-connected right otitis externa.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities remains.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are service-connected.

The Veteran does not have tinnitus, a bilateral knee disability, colon polyps, hypertension, PTSD, or diabetic peripheral neuropathy that is related to active service.,There is no evidence of any diagnosed disabilities in the claims file and no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to inconsistencies in audiometric testing results, the need for additional VA audiological examination, and possible SSA disability records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for a comprehensive evaluation of the functional effects of his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus was first manifested during active service and has persisted chronically since. The Board finds the Veteran's report of in-service acoustic trauma credible, and concludes that his current tinnitus is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially PTSD with major depressive disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be the result of injury incurred in service, specifically due to noise exposure during combat.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to have been aggravated by noise exposure during service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of tinnitus as secondary to hearing loss remains pending.