Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disability are all service-connected. The decision also addresses a clothing allowance or fee dispute issue which is referred to the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, spondylosis of the spine, and bilateral hydroceles and epidermal cysts. The Board found no medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD has been granted, with the effective date set at February 24, 2000. The remaining claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the former being granted based on direct evidence of a current disability related to in-service noise exposure. The latter is presumed due to chronic disease manifested during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic kidney disease and stress, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that the NOD regarding these issues was untimely filed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition. The initial disability ratings for coronary artery disease and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia remain unchanged.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to incomplete records, including missing service treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide any additional medical evidence related to his conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, specifically due to noise exposure during Reserve duty. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ear disability and tinnitus, but these claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus on a direct-incurrence basis and denied a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 23, 2009.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not develop due to in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner found that the current hearing loss is more likely related to occupational noise exposure post-service, rather than service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and social and industrial survey to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and its impact on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and the evidence demonstrates that he is as likely as not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims are mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The primary issue is the evaluation for PTSD, which remains at 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his in-service exposure to noise, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include anxiety and depression) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disorder.