Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with current evidence showing a nexus between in-service noise exposure and these conditions. As such, both claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and ischemic heart disease, as well as an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection in these cases due to lack of evidence linking his conditions to service or any presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD and PTSD) has been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service. The low back disability is not currently service connected, but the Board finds in favor of granting it based on credible statements regarding in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is at least as likely as not the result of an in-service event or injury, and the Board finds that service connection for tinnitus should be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened. However, the evidence does not meet the criteria for a current disability as defined in 38 C.F.R. § 3.385 and thus the claim is denied. The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, nephritis with nephrolithiasis, tinnitus, tendonitis of the right and left ankles, and hemorrhoids, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. Service connection was also granted for tinnitus, which is considered a symptom of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in service and is not etiologically related to service, including as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,Tinnitus is etiologically related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since August 10, 2000. As a result, the criteria for entitlement to TDIU have been met since that time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are attributable to his active military service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's disability ratings were reduced from 40 percent to 10 percent for lumbosacral paravertebral myositis, effective June 1, 2011. The reduction was found to be proper as there had been no actual improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with current evidence showing they were present during service. As such, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service and that there is a continuity of symptomatology since discharge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lower back disability and to determine if he has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology. The VA examiner found the current hearing loss and tinnitus less likely than not caused by or a result of an event in military 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 in-service noise exposure or current disability within one year after separation from service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.