Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The effective date for awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is set at October 4, 2012.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 6100. However, this rating is not higher than the maximum allowed based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to noise exposure during active service, and grants these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to withdrawal of appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus issues. The anterior chest wall scar is rated as noncompensable, with no significant effects on daily activities or occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination by a physician qualified to determine the etiology of any ear disabilities present during the period of the claim.

The Board determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or a chronic condition during service. The examiner opined that it is less likely than not that the Veteran's hearing loss was caused by his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability under the VA criteria for service connection, and denied all three issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's claims of increased rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records and provide a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service records and further examination is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and missing medical records, particularly those from Exxon Corp. related to hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable as a result of his disabilities, given his educational background and experience.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for tinnitus or bilateral eye disability, other than retinitis pigmentosis. The Veteran's hearing was also denied service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural issue with the hearing, and the Veteran is entitled to another video-conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are due to exposure to loud noises during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss prior to July 6, 2013 were denied. The Board found that the current disability levels did not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are addressed in the REMAND portion.