Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted, and he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his numerous service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. Bilateral hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to noise trauma sustained in active service, while tinnitus is also found to be etiologically related to the same noise trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is related to his active military service, granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active service. The issue of whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is due to herbicide exposure and/or secondary to PTSD remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for service connection for lumbar spondylosis. The Board found that there was no evidence to support higher disability ratings or service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the effect of all service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his service. The VA examiners concluded that it was less likely than not that the Veteran's hearing loss or tinnitus were caused by noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his period of active duty service. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis for hearing loss, lung condition (asbestos exposure), and heart condition (herbicide exposure). However, additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

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

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that there is no post-service diagnosis of tinnitus and the Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is denied. The issue of bilateral hearing loss was addressed in a separate decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on both issues of right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new medical opinion on the nature and etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service combat experience, while his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown until decades after service and are unrelated to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service, nor is there sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and military noise exposure.

The criteria for service connection benefits are met. The Veteran finds that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and has continued to the present day.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and experience prior to July 31, 2009.