Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for symptoms of a left ear disability other than hearing loss, finding that his dizziness and tinnitus were not related to his service-connected left ear condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have tinnitus, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including Lyme disease and its residuals, as well as secondary disabilities to these conditions, have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that any of the claimed conditions are related to active military service or are due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are sufficiently severe to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a TDIU.

The Veteran's current tinnitus disability had its onset during active duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss are all service-connected. Tinnitus was found to be incurred in active service. Right ear hearing loss is considered aggravated by active service. Left ear hearing loss is not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is found to be causally related to his in-service noise exposure, and therefore, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain relevant medical records. The issues of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a pulmonary disorder are under review.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have arisen during service, meeting the criteria for service connection. The cold injury claims are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a left knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are not supported by credible evidence of a continuity of symptomatology since service or an association with service. The claims will be remanded to further develop the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, otitis media, and right sterna-clavicular injury are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current disability levels.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The claim for a back disability was also denied as there is no credible evidence linking any current back condition to military service.

The Board has determined that there is CUE in the February 1996 rating decision denying service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. As a result, the effective date of the grant of service connection for these conditions is being granted as early as March 3, 1995.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess his employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing a VA audiology examination to determine if current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as there is evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (onset during service) and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also granted based on direct service connection. The claim for tinnitus is granted as the Veteran experienced symptoms since service, which he testified to in his April 2013 hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records and an examination assessing the cumulative impact of his service-connected disabilities on employment. The case will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including obtaining post-November 2011 treatment records from the Charleston VA Medical Center and providing a new VA examination for the TDIU claim. The issues on appeal include reopening of a hearing loss claim, service connection for various peripheral neuropathies, tinnitus, hyperkeratosis, wrist scar, foot scar, and TDIU.