Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and evaluation, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, COPD, and depression.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The appeal concerning an increased rating for right ankle degenerative joint disease was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, including in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence is against finding a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and continues to this day, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

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

The Veteran's PTSD, ischemic heart condition, tinnitus, lumbar osteoarthritis, radiculopathy of the right leg, and ankle strain have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU based on his PTSD alone.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and that his claimed headaches, anxiety, and tinnitus are not causally related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been assigned a 10 percent evaluation, which is the maximum rating authorized for these conditions under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The issue of an initial compensable rating for chronic esophagitis, GERD, and a hiatal hernia is remanded as it involves consideration of appropriate diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability, but denied right ear hearing loss disability.

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

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service, and the medical opinion concluded that these conditions are not related to service. The Veteran's current hearing loss is diagnosed as sensorineural hearing loss, which was not shown during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are found to have begun during service due to noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's appeals for service connection on several issues due to her withdrawal of those appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the preponderance of evidence was against the claim and thus denying it.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to address the medical matters raised by the appellant's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's vertigo is etiologically related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus granting service connection for vertigo.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his military service and is granted. The right ankle and skin disabilities are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, arranging for a VA examination by a psychiatrist to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work, and considering all evidence in adjudicating the claim.