Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service, with doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have originated during his service, specifically due to noise exposure while serving in Vietnam. As the Veteran has engaged in combat operations and provided credible testimony regarding his symptoms, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication of the issues listed, including consideration of new evidence. The Veteran is also advised to submit a timely substantive appeal if he wishes to perfect his appeal on any of these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, residuals of a stroke, skin disorder, bladder cancer, and back disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus. After considering all available evidence, including the Veteran's lay statements about in-service noise exposure and his current symptoms, the Board finds that service connection is warranted for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service exposure to significant acoustic trauma from shooting rifles. The claim of new and material evidence to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as there are no findings on remand yet.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his claim for an increased rating has not been met.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are considered, along with his credible reports of in-service noise exposure, and it is at least as likely as not that these disabilities are related to active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to fully and correctly adjudicate the claims on appeal, including obtaining National Guard service records, VA treatment records from October 2015 onward, and private medical treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran seeks to establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he contends are due to acoustic trauma experienced during his military service. The appeal is being REMANDED to obtain VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA audiology examination in Puerto Rico.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service, but he had a current hearing loss disability in his right ear that began prior to his second period of active duty and improved during this period.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities render him disabled to the extent that he requires the regular aid and assistance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is considered a direct result of his military service, with the onset occurring during or shortly after his time in active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the claim for TBI residuals remains pending as there was insufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship with service.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied his claim for service connection.