Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service loud noise exposure during ACDUTRA service, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, thus the claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent was denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not considered to be related to service, while his tinnitus is found to have onset in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches due to traumatic brain injury have been granted a 40% rating, effective August 13, 2007. The decision also found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected and his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has not warranted an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or noise exposure. The Board also found that tinnitus is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, and he has a current right ankle disability that is secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The Veteran was granted an increased rating for his bilateral pes planus from 10 percent to 30 percent effective May 4, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus and current bilateral hearing loss disability are found to be related to his military service. However, the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed hepatitis disability for which he is seeking service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's assertions of in-service noise exposure are credible.,Regarding the left shoulder condition, the case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and provide a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's assertions regarding in-service noise exposure and current symptoms are credible. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence of a medical nexus.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his active service and the Board finds that the elements of service connection have been met, granting the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset and was shown in service, and there have been subsequent manifestations of the same chronic disease during the appeal period. As such, pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b), as the Veteran's tinnitus (a chronic disease for purposes of VA regulations) was shown in service and there have been subsequent manifestations of the same chronic disease during the appeal period, the Board concludes that tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, with tinnitus being found to have continuity of symptoms since service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and any in-service noise exposure. The Veteran reported an incident during active duty where he was near a grenade explosion, but audiometric testing did not show any significant changes from his pre-service levels.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran is now rated at 50% for his other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability and an ulcer disease, but reopened these claims. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is not supported by evidence showing a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, as he did not meet the legal requirements for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.