Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are supported by his credible account of in-service events and medical evidence linking the disabilities to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is a link between his in-service noise exposure and current disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have onset in service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his claimed conditions of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cold weather injuries of the hands, feet, and ears. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.,Service treatment records were incomplete due to destruction in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and a thoracolumbar spine disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there is at least equipoise evidence for and against service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are found to be related to the Veteran's military service. As a result, both conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition. Service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were found to be related to service, with the Board finding that reasonable doubt was resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arteriosclerotic heart disease and multiple other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has not been established. The Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards.,Service connection for tinnitus has also not been established. The VA examiner found that the onset of symptoms was post-service and related to occupational noise exposure.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for service connection for a ruptured ear drum, tinnitus, and disabilities of the neck and low back. The Board found that the Appellant did not meet the criteria for Veteran status for these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the pension claim for further development, including obtaining VA medical examinations and additional records. The Veteran's physical disabilities include lumbar strain with IVDS, tinnitus, and adjustment disorder.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the evidence shows current disability and in-service noise exposure. Service connection is not granted for hypertension due to lack of medical evidence supporting a nexus between active duty service and the condition.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board then determined that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and the Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of an in-service incurrence and continuity of symptomatology since service. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether service-connected tinnitus caused or aggravated the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, and for obtaining VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and the Board finds that tinnitus and a psychiatric disorder are not related to service.