Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disability is attributable to inservice acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, tinnitus, and bilateral flat feet. The claim for a left ankle disability was withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing on appeal. The claim for a left wrist disability was also withdrawn.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and refractive error are not service-connected. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of aggravation or direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of the claims, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his tinnitus.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss are related to his active duty service, as he was exposed to loud noise during his time as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent and credible in his report of exposure to acoustic trauma during service, experiencing bilateral constant tinnitus during service, and having experienced continuous symptoms of tinnitus since service. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, but the issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to a failure to issue a statement of the case.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are service-connected due to secondary service connection via diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is also service-connected due to secondary service connection via diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there was no evidence of a hearing disability for VA purposes on separation from service or within one year of separation. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not have sensorineural hearing loss caused by noise exposure in the early 1960s.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a copy of the SSA decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen his previously denied claims. The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or low back disability and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to noise exposure in service, as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms or a current disability within one year of separation. The Board finds that the Veteran did not experience continuous symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus after service separation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable and considering his claim of entitlement to an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss. The Board also found credible the Veteran's testimony regarding his long history of tinnitus since service discharge.

The Board found that the Veteran's current leg complaints are not related to his in-service lower leg contusions and denied service connection for residuals of contusions of bilateral lower legs. The other claims were also denied as there was no evidence linking the claimed conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with the onset likely occurring during active duty. As such, these conditions have been granted as service connected.