Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its inception in service and persisted since, warranting the grant of service connection. The case is remanded for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss and PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, with current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding the cumulative effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in service, were not exhibited within the first post-service year, and are not otherwise related to service. As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and low back disorder are related to his service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure on the flight line, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection on a presumptive basis as it became manifest within one year of his separation from service. His claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus or any higher rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and a VA industrial/occupational examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes, prevent him from engaging in any type of substantially gainful employment consistent with his skills, education, and training.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to November 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, including as due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not develop during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking it to service. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the tinnitus began after service and is related to post-service noise exposure.

The Board finds that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his military service, with no indication of pre-existing conditions or aggravation during service. The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether these conditions were caused by noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, asthma, tinnitus, chronic headaches, and bilateral knee condition. The evidence received since the final denial is sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment effective June 26, 2009. The Board has granted a TDIU rating for this period.