Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to service, with the Board finding that all reasonable doubt should be resolved in his favor. The right shoulder condition claim is pending and will require further examination and evidence review before a decision can be made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, tinnitus, upset stomach, nerve disability, swollen eyes, chronic fatigue syndrome, non-typhoid salmonella, shingella, Q-fever, and dry skin, tinea corporis, proximal thighs and left inguinal area are not related to service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be as likely as not related to his service-connected right-ear hearing loss, which was caused by in-service noise exposure. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as both conditions are found to be related to his military service.

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

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for Meniere's syndrome with hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an addendum to the opinions provided in the May 2016 VA examination report, due to new evidence indicating possible exposure to harmful aircraft noises during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Board also granted service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence of a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, do not meet the threshold percentage requirement for a TDIU as they combine to an 80% disability rating. The Veteran has failed to provide sufficient evidence of his current employment status and education history.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted, as his symptoms are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, but has found no evidence linking his bilateral hearing loss to service. The decision grants service connection for tinnitus and denies service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.,There was no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within the presumptive period, and there was insufficient observation to establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is due to acoustic trauma in service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus disability due to service, and therefore, cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The Veteran's duodenal ulcer with prolapsed gastric mucosa and gastroesophageal reflux disease is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have tinnitus due to service, as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in service and no chronicity of symptomatology after discharge. The Veteran's current tinnitus was not shown within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.