Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD with anxiety due to military sexual trauma, depression, and insomnia) require additional development. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issues.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty and there is no evidence of a permanent positive threshold shift during service. Service connection was granted for tinnitus as it began in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, tinnitus, hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and hypertension are denied. The claim for increased rating of headaches as a result of traumatic brain injury is granted to the extent that he is entitled to a 50% disability rating. The appeal regarding service connection for back condition is granted due to new and relevant evidence being submitted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely attributable to his active duty for training, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or within one year of active duty, or are otherwise related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's palmar keratoderma warrants a 10% evaluation, but no higher. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to new and material evidence having been received.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence in the record to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during service or due to military noise exposure. The VA examiner concluded that there was no causal link between current hearing loss and tinnitus and their onset in service.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 16, 2003 for the award of service connection for tinnitus. The decision finds that the Veteran's claim encompassed a claim for tinnitus and that his statements with respect to in-service onset are credible.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus and a low back disorder due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions, requiring additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence in several areas, including PTSD severity since January 2010, TDIU prior to February 26, 2013, and SMC based on aid and attendance needs.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, and renal cell carcinoma are all granted as service-connected. The Veteran is also found to have met the income and net worth requirements for non-service-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating, as his audiometric test results showed average puretone decibel hearing loss of 29 dB in both ears, which corresponds to level I hearing impairment. For tinnitus, the maximum 10 percent rating was assigned and no higher rating is allowed under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by liver cirrhosis, which is linked to his service-connected tinnitus and depression. The Board found that the service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were granted service connection as they are related to his military service. However, the right ear hearing loss was denied, diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension were also denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are being remanded for additional development to clarify the nature of his balance issues and determine if they are related to service-connected conditions.