Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that his currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not caused by or a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and is related to noise exposure during military service, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and continues to persist, establishing continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence showing a nexus between current hearing loss and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and is related to his exposure to acoustic trauma. The decision on left ear hearing loss is pending as it was addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's tinnitus disability is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the Veteran's functional impairment due to his tinnitus, including difficulty wearing hearing aids and sleep disturbances.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his active service and granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus.

The Veteran's hearing loss and hemorrhoids have been rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of functional impairment or secondary conditions.,Tinnitus has not been shown to be related to service, and the tumor of the right side gum and sinus is pending further evaluation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to the need to obtain in-service medical records through an alternate procedure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred in service, and his bilateral hearing loss is not a compensable disability. The Board grants the claim for tinnitus.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is as likely as not attributable to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The Board then determined that these conditions are related to service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have started during his service, and the Board grants service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims to service connect a psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic sinusitis were reopened. The Board finds that the Veteran has a psychiatric disability etiologically related to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, including consideration of his military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and service personnel records. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being evaluated to determine if they are related to his active service.

The Veteran is seeking effective dates earlier than June 15, 2015, for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and psoriasis. The Board finds that there is no basis upon which to award effective dates earlier than the June 15, 2015, effective date already assigned.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no higher schedular disability rating available under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need for regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting the grant of SMC based on this need.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or related to his active service.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus.