Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise regarding their relationship to service.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as new and material evidence has been received, and the Board finds that his tinnitus began during active duty due to acoustic trauma.

Service connection is granted for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Veteran provided credible reports of stressors related to the fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, which a VA examiner conceded was sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD. A private medical provider also opined that there was a medical link between the Veteran's PTSD and his experience in the army.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss. The weight of evidence indicates that a medical nexus has not been established between current diagnosis and an in-service incurrence; and the criteria for statutory presumptions have not been met.,Tinnitus service connection is granted. The Veteran indicated that he began to manifest tinnitus due to military noise exposure, and tinnitus continued to manifest ever since.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and migraine headaches associated with multiple sclerosis.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a groin disability is granted. The Board finds that the evidence received since the last final denial relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. However, further development is required due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional examination is needed.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied the claims for service connection. The evidence does not establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 1, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim for thoracolumbar spine disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issue of service connection for hearing loss disability is remanded due to the need for an opinion regarding its relationship to tinnitus.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, low back disability, and other conditions, are sufficient to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service occupational duties and the Board finds service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including a major neurocognitive disorder resulting from a TBI and depressive disorder), and hypertension. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability, effective date for tinnitus and thoracolumbar spine strain awards, and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service-connected hearing loss and finds it at least as likely as not that the tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected as it has been present since his military service and he was exposed to noise trauma during that time.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for a right knee condition, right ankle condition, GERD, and lower back condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus was filed on September 15, 2012. The Board found that the earliest date for which service connection can be effective is September 15, 2012, thus denying a request for an earlier effective date.