Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's tinnitus claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the threshold criteria for TDIU, and the Board finds that his education, special training, and employment history support a finding of unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and arranging for a medical examination. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated again after all requested actions have been completed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative withdrew their appeal prior to the issuance of an appellate decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for various disabilities due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's chronic residuals of hepatitis C have been granted service connection as a result of his in-service combat exposure to blood and enemy contact.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been established based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to acoustic trauma during combat, resulting from artillery fire and explosions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted, with the diagnosis being related to in-service stressors. Tinnitus was also found to have its onset during service.,Service connection is established for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are not related to service, while his tinnitus is established as present.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and continues to the present day, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while benign prostatic hypertrophy is not. The claim for hypertension was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claim, as well as issuance of an SOC on the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are not service-connected, but his tinnitus is service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including exposure to loud aircraft noise. The current conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back disability. The Veteran's claims are supported by competent medical evidence that links his current conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus based on the evidence of record.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating her claims. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the decision favoring the Veteran.