Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's preexisting right ear hearing loss was aggravated by service, while his current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been established as having onset during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the current appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his active military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities and his military service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has ordered additional development regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including obtaining missing Reserve service medical records. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination to determine the etiology of any current hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant personnel records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied in May 1998, but he submitted a notice of disagreement and the effective date is set to April 14, 1998.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, depression, and attention deficit disorder were denied as there was no current diagnosis or evidence of in-service causation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a back disability, finding that new and material evidence has been presented. The claims are now granted as both conditions are found to be related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining audiometric test results and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence does not establish a direct link to service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including whether they are related to service exposure to excessive noise.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to noise from working with jet engines. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and grants service connection for tinnitus, as it is plausible that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and is related to noise exposure, thus granting service connection for tinnitus. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as there are insufficient findings regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, and his right shoulder strain is denied. The lower back disability claim remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus was manifested during service and to a compensable degree within one year of separation, establishing service connection on a direct basis.