Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's major depression with psychotic features, type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are presumed to be related to his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The left knee disability is not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not attributable to his period of military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his left ankle condition and PTSD are not. The Veteran was provided with a VA examination for PTSD in August 2011, which found no current diagnosis of an ankle condition or PTSD disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a chronic disease in service or continuous symptoms after service separation. The Veteran experienced noise exposure during service but his current hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability. Tinnitus was found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, neck disability, bunion right foot, and bunion left foot were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied in a February 2005 rating decision. The RO did not receive a timely substantive appeal with respect to this issue, and thus the decision became final.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, but there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether these conditions were caused by service. The decision grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for a skin examination to assess the severity of his warts. An addendum opinion on tinnitus and its etiology will also be needed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran sustained acoustic trauma during service, but there is no evidence showing a direct relationship between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran and his representative have withdrawn their appeals regarding the reopening of a tinnitus claim and service connection for sleep apnea. As such, the issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and recurrent rectal abscess/pilonidal cyst, rendered him unemployable beginning December 1, 2008. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for the Veteran's back disorder, but denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for low back condition. The right wrist condition claim is remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active military service, including exposure to noise from artillery guns. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are of such severity as to render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran sustained acoustic trauma in service, had a current disability of sensorineural hearing loss (bilateral hearing loss), and credible evidence of symptoms since service separation. For tinnitus, the Board found that the Veteran reported onset during service and has consistent statements regarding his tinnitus symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.