Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and left carpal tunnel syndrome are related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions. The right shoulder disability and left shoulder disability issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically the noise exposure he experienced as a machine gunner in Vietnam. The Board finds that these conditions are directly related to his active duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as a direct result of his active duty service, with the presumption that it manifested during and after service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and psychiatric disability have been granted with a 70% rating. The decision also addressed the Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which was not addressed in the initial rating period under appeal.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service, specifically noise exposure during combat in Vietnam. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his exposure to noise trauma in service.

The Veteran's request for a Board hearing has been scheduled, but the notices were sent to an incorrect address. The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing at his latest address.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board has also granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of chronic headache disability and tinnitus, as they are not related to his service or any in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of the evidence does not establish a current disability or a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or a result of active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, right arm fracture residuals, and tinnitus) are rated at 60 percent combined. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unemployable due to their severity and nature.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeals are dismissed as they have been previously adjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable or in need of aid and attendance, thus his claims for TDIU and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to a personal assault during service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not found to be directly related to service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, but finds that he has established service connection for tinnitus based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims may be finally adjudicated, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records prior to February 2009. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also being reviewed for a possible connection to military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active military service. However, there is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability in the right ear for VA purposes and left ear hearing loss is not shown to be related to service.