Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case to determine if a TDIU is warranted on an extraschedular basis due to service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and radiation proctitis.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for hypertension. The claim of reopening the Veteran's claim for myasthenia gravis is granted, but further examination is needed to determine if it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service exposure to loud noise during his time aboard the U.S.S. Cayuga, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected due to exposure to acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The VA examiner opined that these conditions were less likely than not caused by or a result of his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his service, including due to noise exposure. The Board found the evidence against a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a breathing condition with chronic cough, but found the reduction of ratings from 20% to 10% for peripheral neuropathy of each lower extremity improper. The 20% rating is restored.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, which is claimed as secondary to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, has been remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has found that the Veteran currently suffers from tinnitus, and there is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether his tinnitus is related to service. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during his active service. As such, the claim for service connection has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure of notification for a requested videoconference Board hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for scheduling an appropriate hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are related to his active service, but he does not have a diagnosed low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The claim for service connection was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 17, 2010 for service connection of sleep apnea. The Veteran initiated a new claim to reopen his previously denied claim on March 17, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is less likely than not caused by or result of military acoustic trauma, and the evidence does not support a finding that his sensorineural hearing loss manifested to a compensable degree within one year following his military separation. For tinnitus, the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not associated with the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition began during military service. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining clarification on the use of speech recognition tests in his private audiograms and a VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a shrapnel injury. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to notify him of his scheduled videoconference hearing. He will be given another opportunity for a hearing before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred in or caused by military service, granting service connection for both conditions.