Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not decided in this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence regarding the specific in-service knee surgery. The Veteran is also granted service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.,The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 10 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the improper provision of documents and the need for representation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for independent living services under Chapter 31 of Title 38, U.S.C., due to his current service-connected conditions and lack of feasibility in achieving a vocational goal.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, and undiagnosed illnesses. The case is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a Board video-conference hearing at the El Paso VA facility as soon as possible after April 2015. The Veteran requested additional time due to obtaining new evidence and wishes to attend his hearing at the El Paso VA facility.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current condition. The other conditions were not found to be related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection and a compensable rating are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms since service are credible. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was received to reopen the tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, right and left knee disability, left and right ankle disability, right and left wrist disability, and vertigo claims. However, hypertension and sleep apnea were not shown during or within one year after service and there is no competent medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his occupational impairment due to service-connected disabilities and an opinion on whether he can secure substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unemployable due to his mental health condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service, and concludes that service connection is warranted. However, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of aggravation beyond normal progression during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 9, 2012, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran had persistent tinnitus related to in-service acoustic trauma documented in February 1994, but did not file a formal or informal claim until August 2012.