Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is obtained and considered in the Veteran's claims for service connection. This includes obtaining his Air National Guard service treatment records, verifying his periods of active duty training (ADT) and inactive duty training (IADT), and obtaining any private treatment records related to his claimed conditions.

The Veteran died of cardiac arrest due to gastrointestinal bleeding. The Board found that his service-connected conditions (major depression, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The left knee condition is not addressed as it does not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the current disability and service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not considered to be related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are at least as likely as not related to military noise exposure during active and reserve service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, prostatitis, back disability, and residuals of right trigger finger release are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports a diagnosis of tinnitus related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination, and providing an addendum to the September 2010 VA examiner's report.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is being remanded due to outstanding private medical evidence and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are more likely due to post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals of ratings in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus and acne with facial scarring, as he withdrew his appeal prior to the issuance of a decision. The claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was not adjudicated by the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including laryngeal cancer, major depression, tension headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, are sufficiently severe to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and depression. The decision on vertigo is pending in the REMAND portion.