Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, do not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, eustachian tube dysfunction, and fibromyalgia on a direct basis. The Veteran's current conditions are related to her military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is associated with his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. Prior to July 9, 2014, the PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating; since then, it does.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and he currently has a current diagnosis of tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is manifested by Level I to Level II hearing in each ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular rating authorized under the applicable criteria. Factors warranting an extraschedular rating are not shown.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability related to service.,For the initial rating claim, the Veteran was granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but assigned a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss or tinnitus disability related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus, as well as whether it is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be adjudicated following this additional development.

The Veteran's service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease prior to April 17, 2014 was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is rated at its maximum allowable under VA regulations, and thus no higher rating can be assigned. The claims for service connection for hearing loss, DM, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and nonservice-connected pension benefits have been denied as there is insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to loud noises from demolition and explosive devices. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to noise exposure during active service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for dizziness was not granted as new and material evidence had not been received, while his claims of service connection for an ear disorder (tinnitus) were denied. The low back disability claim has been reopened but the grant is based on de novo review.,Service connection for a low back disability has been reopened due to the submission of additional evidence showing degenerative changes and related symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a mental health examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his in-service personal assault, and scheduling an audiological and neurological examination to assess any head trauma or tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The earliest clinical evidence of these conditions is from many years after he left active duty.