Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that either condition is related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are due to noise exposure during service, with conflicting medical opinions resulting in a finding of equipoise. As such, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the Waco RO due to his request for rescheduling after he was hospitalized with injuries from a motor vehicle accident.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for hearing loss and found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying a TDIU.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 1, 2009 for payment of additional compensation for his current spouse. The decision was based on the fact that notice of his marriage to his current spouse was not received at the RO within one year of their marriage or prior to February 10, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been rated based on their current severity. The initial evaluation for tinnitus is at the maximum allowed, while an increased rating above 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss up to May 4, 2009, was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus related to service, including exposure to cold and noise. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions are etiologically related to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's tinnitus is caused by his service-connected hearing loss in the left ear, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic cough were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities meeting the criteria for VA compensation purposes. The Board found that any complaints or diagnoses regarding these conditions during service did not meet the requirements for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset in service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service. The claim for residuals of asbestos exposure was not addressed due to lack of a diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically noise exposure. As a result, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus related to his military service and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current constant bilateral tinnitus is likely due to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The remaining issues of service connection for PTSD and residuals of a cold weather injury are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus began during or resulted from service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, as secondary to his service-connected left ear hearing loss, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion and proper VCAA notice.

The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service, and the Board finds that it was more likely caused by occupational noise exposure after service.