Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have first manifested during active military service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are service-connected, as they were incurred during his active duty. However, the bilateral heel condition and knee condition do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as these conditions are found to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information on where the Veteran received treatment for hearing loss and tinnitus after service. The claims will be readjudicated based on all additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as he failed to provide sufficient information and evidence to establish that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and sustain a substantial gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and varicose veins have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded a TDIU beginning from January 2010.

Your appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The claims will be processed after the hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, coronary artery disease, and PTSD, as well as the TDIU claim, are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board via video conference at his local regional office.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence of a current disability level of left ear hearing loss meeting VA criteria for such a disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing and issuance of a statement of the case for certain claims.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion regarding his service-connected PTSD, as well as potential aggravation of substance abuse by PTSD.

The Veteran's cold injury residuals affecting the bilateral upper and lower extremities are service-connected based on continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not granted as there was no in-service hearing loss, and it did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not present in service or until many years thereafter, and are not related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the 1970s and arranging for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer and an increased rating for PTSD are also being addressed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service due to exposure to acoustic trauma.,Service connection was also granted for a skin condition (chloracne), with the reasoning that it preexisted service but was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notification regarding service records and alternative forms of evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected, as it did not occur during his active duty or National Guard service. His bilateral sciatica and peripheral neuropathy are secondary to his low back disability.,His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are presumed due to exposure to noise from artillery fire during service.