Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's exposure to noise in service is established, but his current hearing loss and tinnitus may not be related to service based on the 2014 VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability (intervertebral disc disease), bilateral knee disability, sleep apnea, and prostate cancer are all denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,Service treatment records do not document any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during the Veteran's active duty.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of September 18, 2013 for service connection for tinnitus, patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee, acromioclavicular joint separation, left shoulder, and acromioclavicular joint separation, right shoulder.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as increased ratings for lumbar spine DDD, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee pain with mild patellofemoral degenerative changes, left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, residual scar of hernia operation (right inguinal area), and painful residual scar of hernia operation (left inguinal area).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by his military service. The claim for secondary service connection for tinnitus is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to in-service noise exposure, but may be otherwise related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. However, due to an inadequate VA examination for hearing loss and a need for clarification of the Veteran's exposure during service, the issue of service connection for hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records from his Army National Guard and Navy Reserve periods of service. The Veteran is asked to provide information about these periods so that VA can obtain any missing records.

Your claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been resolved in your favor, but the appeal is dismissed as there are no longer any unresolved issues to review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has granted a TDIU from July 28, 2010 to February 19, 2015 based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities of PTSD, CAD, and tinnitus. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The VA examination must be conducted with specific attention to whether these conditions are related to active duty for training or inactive duty for training.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding it at least as likely as not that he experienced tinnitus in service and continues to have symptoms since separation. The decision also grants resumption of VA disability compensation benefits effective November 29, 2007.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to the service-connected hypertension, and his high cholesterol does not qualify as a disability for VA purposes. His tinnitus was present for more than one year after separation from service and is not linked to service. The GERD diagnosed in 2000 is not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an immune system disorder is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied as it is not related to in-service noise exposure and the Veteran’s current tinnitus began many years after service.,Bilateral hearing loss (right ear) is not shown to be a disability for VA purposes, while left ear hearing loss is noted at entrance but does not show an increase in severity during service.,The issue of entitlement to increased initial rating for right knee chondromalacia patella is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for head injury and brain tumor with residual memory loss, scar, slurred speech and headaches are remanded for additional development due to lack of specific medical examination or diagnosis.,Entitlement to service connection for muscle and joint pain is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that his current condition is related to in-service noise exposure during basic training.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied because the new evidence received did not establish a link between his conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection decisions were made.