Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to noise exposure during his period of active service, including artillery and other weapons noise in Germany. As such, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and residuals of burn scars to the head, face, and neck are not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, sleep apnea, low back strain, left knee strain, right knee medial meniscus tear, tinnitus, hypertension, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of these service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his military service, including the conceded in-service acoustic trauma. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he was not in a work release status while incarcerated at the Winnebago Correctional Center, and therefore does not meet the criteria for restoration of full disability compensation benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are as likely as not related to his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service, granting the claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral leg disorder, a back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was set at July 23, 2012.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current tinnitus is not etiologically related to active service, including as a result of in-service noise exposure. The weight of the competent and credible evidence does not support a finding of relationship between the Veteran's current tinnitus and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be as likely as not related to his active service, including exposure to noise during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus disabilities for VA purposes, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions. However, the Board found in favor of the Veteran on his claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding it at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied because the January 1989 rating decision denying his claim considered all available evidence and applied the correct legal standards, and there is no CUE found.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder condition, right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and GERD. The VA will need to obtain updated treatment records, arrange for appropriate examinations, and provide an opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent evaluation, the maximum authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The disability does not present an exceptional picture so as to warrant referral for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated according to the applicable rating criteria. The RO has assigned appropriate disability ratings for his bladder dysfunction, resection of axilla and neck lymph nodes, abdomen scars, lung dysfunction, vision changes, Burkitt's lymphoma, and tinnitus. No higher evaluations are warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus, finding that his hearing loss was at most level III in both ears, which corresponds to a zero percent evaluation. The Board also found no evidence of tinnitus.