Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially residuals of lumbar strain, left and right knee chondromalacia, left and right ankle strains, and left and right foot plantar fasciitis with hallux valgus, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues and additional evidentiary development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not the result of his noise exposure in service, and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's account of in-service acoustic trauma and progressive symptomatology since separation is credible. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis to assign a higher evaluation. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss (BLHL) is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a right ankle sprain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis or etiological link to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during active service, were not manifested to a compensable degree within the first post-service year, and are not otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his tinnitus and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on direct service connection due to in-service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service. The Veteran's STRs do not show any complaints, symptoms, or diagnosis of hearing loss during service. There is no evidence showing continuous symptoms since service separation and no evidence of a disease in service that would be presumed for a chronic disease under 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a).

The Veteran has been granted service connection for hypertension, headaches, bilateral tinnitus, hypothyroidism, and PTSD. The claims are based on secondary service connection in the case of hypertension and direct service connection for the other conditions.,Service connection is established for each condition listed above.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is associated with his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced in-service acoustic trauma and has current disabilities. The other issues on appeal are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination. The appellant is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease (IHD), hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied due to lack of exposure to herbicides in service and no current symptoms related to these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, as he reported experiencing it since service and provided credible testimony about noise exposure during service. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with no evidence of noise exposure in service. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated as 50 percent disabling since August 31, 2010. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating and the TDIU claim is denied.