Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred during active service, and the claim for this condition is granted. The low back disability is not considered to be related to active service.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a skin disability, to include eczema, tinea versicolor and pruritus, which was incurred in active military service.,Service connection has also been established for tinnitus, which the Veteran asserts is related to his time in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including conceded noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or causation.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's current tinnitus disability is due to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his active military service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it is related to his period of active duty at the DMZ in Korea. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them prior to a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not related to active service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has decided that the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus need further development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient reasoning in previous opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The effective date for tinnitus is set at August 19, 2002.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, resolving all doubt in his favor. The claim for headaches is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service, while prostate cancer and coronary artery disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be related to service, and the claim for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The appellant has withdrawn the appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus dismissing these claims.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus began during active service and has continued since, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board finds the VA examiner's opinion significantly probative in concluding that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely than not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and is not etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for limitation of flexion of the bilateral knees and back strain. The Veteran's sleep apnea and tinnitus have not been established as related to service.