Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam and to obtain relevant medical records. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or for many years thereafter, and are unrelated to any noise exposure during active duty service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and has persisted since then, warranting service connection. The claim for secondary service connection of peripheral neuropathy to diabetes mellitus is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, tinnitus, and depression, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus.,Diabetes mellitus type 2 is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Hypertension is found to be related to the service-connected diabetes mellitus. Tinnitus was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide him with a Board hearing at his current address. The issues on appeal include the initial rating for scars, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right knee disorder.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board grants his claim for TDIU.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. Bilateral hearing loss was not shown within one year of separation from service, but the Veteran has credible reports of in-service noise exposure and current tinnitus. Service connection for tinnitus is granted as it originated 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 issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset during his period of service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted, with the Board finding that his current conditions are related to military noise exposure.

The Board finds the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss as defined by VA regulations. The left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are found to be related to active duty service.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is manifested by pain, instability, limitation of motion, and functional loss that more closely approximates moderate limitation of motion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen her claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and a left knee disability. She is also granted service connection for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation basis and for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. However, it denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability within one year post-service and no causal link between active service and the condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities began during service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.