Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable disability rating. The earlier effective date claim for the increased disability rating of migraines was granted, with an effective date set at September 11, 2009.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, as new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection is granted for right ear hearing loss and right ear tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his period of service, including manifesting within one year of service. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 14, 2010 for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The initial rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss after October 9, 2014 has also been granted.

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 due to noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to his military service. The issue of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee laxity is withdrawn by the Veteran. No service connection was established for heart disease or an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 10 percent, and his tinnitus disability is also rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not show an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss. Additionally, the Veteran has not been shown to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is at least as likely as not the result of an in-service event or injury, and the Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus. The Veteran's statement as to the onset of tinnitus during his October 2017 Board hearing was found to be credible, and this lay evidence indicates a relationship between the current disability and the in-service noise exposure.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his military service, and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, with the Board resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted as it is considered a symptom of the service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and tinnitus. The Veteran served as a helicopter crew chief, exposed to noise from helicopters, tanks, and small arms fire during his military service. His complaints of hearing loss and tinnitus began shortly after a live fire exercise where he was not wearing protective gear. Service connection is granted for these conditions based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have been present during service and is therefore granted as service connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sickle cell anemia and bilateral hip conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, while his hypertension is found to be aggravated by PTSD. The claims for gastroparesis and GERD with Barrett's syndrome have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection have been denied. The Board found that no new or material evidence had been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Reserve service records and a VA examination.