Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to establish chronicity or continuity of care. The VA examiners concluded that the current disabilities were more likely caused by occupational and recreational noise exposure in civilian life.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their clinical onset in service, nor are they otherwise related to active duty. The VA examinations conducted found no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss or tinnitus and military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate consideration of his service connection contentions, including an in-service noise exposure incident. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as the private treatment records have not been obtained.

The Board denied a separate, compensable evaluation for tinnitus associated with high frequency deafness of the left ear in March 1974. The decision is being reviewed on the basis of CUE.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there was no credible evidence of noise exposure during service. The VA examiner considered a more accurate history of post-service noise exposure but still concluded that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is related to his service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The other claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that residuals of a cold injury of the bilateral hands are related to service. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during his military service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition. The issue of higher evaluation for PTSD and depressive disorder remains pending as it was not addressed by the March 2010 rating decision.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus, finding that the claim to reopen was received on July 31, 2009 and thus the effective date is set at that time.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability, attributing these conditions to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus was also denied as there is no showing of a current disability involving tinnitus. The low back condition issue is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran reported symptoms of tinnitus during his active duty, which was conceded by VA. Hearing loss was not shown to be present at this time.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during active service and is granted as service connection.

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

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective February 16, 2010. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for additional medical examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims. The Veteran's hearing loss was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and there is no medical evidence linking his current tinnitus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active military service. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and ear disorder other than hearing loss and tinnitus (claimed as otitis media) are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's participation in live artillery fire exercises during service caused this condition. Service connection was denied for low back disability.