Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, headaches, bilateral epiphora due to allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, tinnitus, a tonsil disorder, and hearing loss, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development and scheduling of a hearing. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet VA criteria for hearing loss disability in either ear and his tinnitus is not causally related to active service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The case is REMANDED for the following actions: (1) Adjudicate the issues of entitlement to an effective date prior to March 19, 2003, for the grant of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss; if the benefits sought cannot be granted, issue a statement of the case in accordance with applicable law and regulations. (2) Obtain VA treatment records from September 2014 to the present. (3) Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the nature and severity of his service connected residuals from a lumbar spine herniated disc with degenerative arthritis. The examiner should determine whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has a neurologic disability impacting either of his lower extremities that is the result of his service connected back disability. (4) Then readjudicate the appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including whether they are related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unemployable, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran does not have tinnitus that is related to his military service and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted, with diabetes mellitus type II being presumed due to herbicide exposure and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus established as a result of in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, are being reviewed to determine if they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, including the ones related to cervical spine disability. The Board has dismissed the appeal due to this request.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and has been recurrent since then, warranting service connection. The remaining claims for lumbar spine disorder, sciatic nerve disorder, left shoulder disorder, and TBI residuals are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI, migraines, dizziness, and photophobia are not service-connected as they did not occur during active duty or are not related to any incident of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to have manifested in service, while his right ear hearing loss is presumed due to acoustic trauma from a rocket attack during service. Tinnitus is also found to have started in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, and the criteria for a TDIU are therefore not met.

The Board finds that the Veteran likely has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that are attributable to his active military service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has competent evidence of current bilateral hearing loss, but insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between his current hearing loss and service. His right thumb disability, bilateral foot condition, and sleep apnea are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA medical records, specifically audiological evaluations. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending further development.

The Board found no credible evidence of current tinnitus and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service due to exposure to acoustic trauma during basic training, field testing for foam ear plugs, and as a Fire Control Systems Repairer. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus.