Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are supported by competent medical evidence, and the causal relationship between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD is established.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to exposure to hazardous noise levels during active service, specifically his duties at the rear mount 'Battle Station' aboard ship. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing or videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to noise exposure during his period of active service. The Veteran also had a cold injury to his hands in service, but there is insufficient evidence to determine if any current hand disability is related to this injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds no reason to doubt the Veteran's credibility and concludes that he began experiencing ringing in his ears while in service, which continues to this day.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's tinnitus began in service and has continued since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board grants a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a bilateral knee disorder were all denied. The Veteran was not granted any initial evaluations or service connections.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issues of bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted as the criteria for direct service connection have been met.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not have onset or aggravation during his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is attributable to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection was not granted for bilateral hearing loss disability, hypertension (to include as due to diabetes mellitus Type II), or right knee disability.

Your claim for service connection for tinnitus has been fully granted in an October 2015 rating decision, and the appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and denied the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral knee disability.,The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding these conditions. Service connection was denied for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and there is no evidence of tinnitus within one year after service separation. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be established.