Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, including periods of ACDUTRA. The VA audiologist found no evidence supporting a connection between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination with an industrial/occupational specialist to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered following this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus disability related to his active duty service. However, the Veteran's currently diagnosed tinnitus began during and continued since his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as his pre-existing hearing acuity did not worsen during service. The VA expert audiologist concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss is more likely due to post-service noise exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, schizophrenia, and memory loss. The claims for bilateral ankle arthralgias, bilateral knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with noise exposure being a significant factor. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis, service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back condition, residuals of frostbite/chemical burn, and right foot/ankle condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted, as it finds in favor of the Veteran based on credible and probative lay evidence regarding his in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requests for additional records, including from private providers and VA facilities. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new or material evidence to reopen his previously denied hookworm/parasitic disease and diabetes mellitus type II issues.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle tendonitis and tinnitus do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his combined rating is only 20%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following all forms of substantially gainful employment during the period from July 24, 2006 to April 8, 2007.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus and bilateral shin splints with early stress fractures of the tibia have been granted, with a 10% disability rating assigned for each leg.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, with no presumption or other special consideration applied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss that is service-connected. The Board finds no evidence of a current disability and the medical evidence does not support a finding of in-service noise exposure resulting in hearing impairment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to its onset in service. For his bilateral hearing loss, while he has a current disability, there is no evidence of such being present during service or within one year postservice, and the competent medical evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and lumbar spine disability are presumed to have been incurred in service. The right eye cataract, left eye cataract, and glaucoma claims are granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a combined effects opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow gainful employment.