Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, while the underlying claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted his claim for left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the lack of current disability for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 10 percent, which does not meet the threshold requirement for awarding increased compensation based on his spouse's need for aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and back disability are not related to his active service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during his military service. The hearing loss and lung cancer claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with the opinion that both conditions are related to military noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current condition is related to noise exposure during military service. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The issue of bladder cancer is pending as it does not involve a claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral interstitial fibrosis and PTSD, did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 6, 2012.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, while the Eustachian tube dysfunction is not.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 2, 2006.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for further development, including consideration of new evidence and a VA examination. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this additional review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the retrieval of relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of current VA examination for the Veteran's audiological conditions and potential worsening. The Veteran is requested to undergo another VA examination.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and a respiratory disorder are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, as it is etiologically related to the acoustic trauma sustained in active service. However, there is no evidence of a current skin disability and thus service connection for a skin disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's claim for bronchitis was denied due to lack of medical evidence showing the condition was related to service or an undiagnosed illness, and his claim for chronic sinusitis was denied due to lack of medical evidence showing the condition was related to service or an undiagnosed illness.,The VA audiological examination in April 2012 found no hearing loss disability under VA standards. The Veteran's tinnitus was attributed to his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has not determined the merits of any service connection claims as they are pending before it. The Veteran's claims for residuals of myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, sinus disorder, and tinnitus have been reopened due to new evidence received since their last denial in 2010. However, the Board has not found any service connection as they are not supported by competent medical evidence.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral tinnitus and granted it, finding that there is at least as likely as not a causal relationship between the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus and his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in, or caused by, his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.