Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA audiological examination and reviewing a March 18, 1991 audiogram report.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his period of active military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not have their clinical onset in active service or are otherwise causally related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of hearing impairment during service and the medical opinion concluded that the current conditions are more likely due to post-service occupational noise exposure. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantial, gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is not causally related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus disability is not causally related to active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and a left shoulder disability, do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is currently employed in a sedentary position and generates an income above the poverty threshold.

The Board has determined that the appellant's tinnitus is at least as likely caused by his military service, specifically exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The most probative evidence of record does not demonstrate that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, and denied both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder are all granted. The Veteran does not have ratable hearing loss but his hearing has worsened more than 10 dB from his entrance to his exit physical at least at one of the ratable frequencies.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent disability rating for GERD, effective from the day after service discharge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private audiology records and clarifying whether the Veteran receives Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits based on his bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional evidence is obtained.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not related to his service, including noise exposure. The evidence did not show a continuity of symptoms since service or any other basis for establishing service connection.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as knee conditions, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.