Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to noise exposure during his military service. The other conditions (ulcer, IBS, and hemorrhoids) are not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and initial disability rating for tinnitus in excess of 10 percent have been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection for a chronic pulmonary condition, to include as due to conceded in-service asbestos exposure, is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records, particularly regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for TDIU prior to December 12, 2014. After that date, other than PTSD, his remaining service connected disorders do not meet the schedular criteria for consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be related to service exposure, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus, mastoidectomy residuals, and bilateral hearing loss are all rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination. The appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Veteran is already receiving the maximum schedular rating for his tinnitus, and the RO has assigned a non-compensable rating for his hearing loss prior to June 16, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during his active duty or within one year of separation, and are not otherwise related to service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his active service, with no indication of any other etiology. As such, these conditions have been granted as service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, including exposure to loud sounds therein. The Veteran did not have a hearing disability at service entry or separation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability had its onset in service. The issues of increased ratings for the right shoulder disability and scar, right shoulder are remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional development and an opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and her service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during military service. The benefit of doubt has been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding service connection for coronary artery disease and reopening claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or PTSD that is related to his period of active military service. The VA examiners provided opinions concluding that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not due to noise exposure during service, and there is no evidence linking PTSD to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss and left ear sensorineural hearing loss, finding no evidence of such disabilities during or within one year after his military service. The claim for tinnitus was granted as it is presumed to have been incurred due to combat exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including obtaining relevant employment records and clarifying opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.