Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset within a year of service separation or were otherwise related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by military service, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to noise exposure during service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including choreiform movement disorder and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to his education and occupational experience.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service exposure to hazardous noise.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,A bilateral hearing loss disability was not shown during service or for many years thereafter, and the weight of the probative evidence is against a finding that a current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to active military service.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected low back pain with herniated nucleus pulpous L5-S1, now diagnosed as status post L5-S1 left hemilaminectomy, foramenotomy, L5-S1 microdiscectomy with advanced degenerative disc disease. The reduction from 40 to 20 percent was found to be void ab initio.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling of hearings before a Decision Review Officer and a Travel Board. The Veteran's claims will be further considered based on this new information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The decision regarding bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending as it was not adjudicated in this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, a lumbar spine disorder, a right elbow disorder, gastritis, and PTSD. The RO has denied these claims in part and remanded the case for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service and is granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus, made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from April 19, 2006, to December 28, 2009.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service, specifically exposure to noise during active duty. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, as his report of onset during service and continuity since then is credible.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not caused by his military service, and grants service connection for tinnitus. The decision regarding bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to an unavailable hearing transcript and instructed that a new hearing should be scheduled.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is granted, with the Board finding that his current left knee disability is related to in-service parachute jumps. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is also granted, as the Board found credible the Veteran's account of exposure to noise trauma during service and accepted this evidence under the relaxed evidentiary standards afforded combat veterans.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected and his initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has not been granted.