Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment consistent with his education, training, and work experience.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with the exception of the validity of the audiogram results in November 2012. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen his claims. The VA examinations did not show a current disability at the time of the examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an audiology examination to determine the nature and etiology of any tinnitus found.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration of a TDIU based on the evidence of record, including an August 2015 vocational assessment submitted by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The preexisting right ear hearing loss disability is also not considered aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma in service and has current diagnoses of these conditions. The Board also found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and hypertension. The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to hypertension is being remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 50 percent, and the TDIU claim prior to July 23, 2014 is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include as secondary to migraine headaches), ADHD, tinnitus, a disability manifested by bloody noses, and pain from light sensitivity. The evidence supports these findings.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, as well as to obtain any SSA records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus and Meniere's disease, finding that the disabilities did not manifest during or as a result of military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a Social and Industrial Survey to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, as the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner concluded that there is no nexus between any current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for additional development, including examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied all of his claims.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and his appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the threshold disability percentage requirements for consideration of a TDIU on a schedular basis, but further development is needed to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the medical opinion regarding the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss and its aggravation during service. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further development.