Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his exposure to loud noise during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during active service, were not caused by active service, and do not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

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

The Board found that the effective date for service connection of tinnitus should be November 16, 2007, based on the VA examination conducted on that date.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since August 17, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran has experienced very frequent and prolonged migraine headaches that have been completely prostrating and likely productive of severe economic inadaptability throughout the entire appellate period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of such severity to preclude substantially gainful employment prior to August 6, 2010.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss should not be earlier than November 30, 2011. The Veteran's claims were denied in December 1986 but reopened on November 30, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis externa were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating based on the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely due to his in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. The claims of bilateral hearing loss disability and left ankle disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no verified in-service stressor and the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, but granted service connection for tinnitus based on a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional examination and review of evidence, including the Veteran's history of difficulty hearing immediately after service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for residuals of a left ankle fracture was denied in May 1992, and the effective date assigned is October 17, 1991. The Board found that it is not factually ascertainable that the Veteran met the criteria for a 10 percent rating prior to March 24, 2009.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied in May 1987 and confirmed in May 1992 and May 1999. The Board found that it is not factually ascertainable that the Veteran met the criteria for a grant of service connection prior to March 24, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, as there is no evidence of current disabilities. The claim for a higher rating for his thyroid disability was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to noise in service, including artillery fire, which is sufficient to establish a nexus between his current conditions and service.