Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, with no indication of aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are service-connected based on continuity of symptoms since service, without requiring a direct nexus to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to loud noise during military training and work environments. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, but his bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated therein. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability or tinnitus during service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's current hearing loss is considered to be a gradually developing sensorineural hearing loss with no significant in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral knee and hearing loss, burn scar disability, obstructive sleep apnea, TBI, high blood pressure, back disability, and tinnitus. The effective date for the grant of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not earlier than September 27, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and finds it at least as likely as not that the condition began during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and ensuring all claims are properly addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions to determine its etiology.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, do not render him unemployable without regard to advancing age. The evidence shows his disabilities are sufficiently severe to produce unemployability but does not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

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

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The decision found that the Veteran's current tinnitus had its onset during active duty due to noise exposure in combat.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric test results and for further examination of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with the effective date set at the date of claim or prior to that if applicable. The Veteran is receiving the maximum schedular rating for his right little finger disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining terminal treatment records and verifying any herbicide exposure. The appeal is currently in a pending status.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and sleep disturbance claimed as secondary to tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's assertions of in-service noise exposure were credible and consistent with his service record. However, there was no medical evidence linking current hearing loss or sleep disturbance directly to service.