Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right hip disability, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease (CAD).,All three conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at least a 30 percent prior to November 17, 2012 and in excess of 50 percent on and after that date. The TDIU issue is also addressed.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the April 2009 rating decision is not new and material, and therefore, it did not warrant reopening the claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, or tinnitus.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current tinnitus to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to active military service. The VA examiner concluded that the current disability was less likely as not related to the Veteran's period of military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability to include degenerative disc disease due to new evidence and development being required.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disability, and retinal lesion.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to tinnitus, and that service connection is warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no probative evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred in, or caused by, his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and granted it, finding that there is approximately even evidence regarding whether the condition had its onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining audiometric data from a private examination and scheduling a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service, and he is granted a compensable initial rating for his right elbow degenerative arthritis, fracture with scar and lateral epicondylitis. His claim for hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's service connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type 2, tinnitus, gastroparesis, and erectile dysfunction, are rated at 90 percent combined. The Board finds that these conditions prevent the Veteran from securing or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, clarifying disability benefits status, scheduling a VA examination, and providing an addendum to the April 2011 VA audio examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to in-service hazardous noise exposure, but there is uncertainty regarding whether puretone thresholds accurately reflect his current disability level. The decision on service connection for both conditions was granted based on direct evidence of a link between service and symptoms.