Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have its onset during service and is therefore granted as service connected.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it. The Veteran is now entitled to a compensable rating for his right wrist disability.,Service connection for tinnitus was also established, as there is evidence that the condition first developed during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for bilateral tinnitus. For the low back disability, the Board concludes there was no aggravation of a pre-existing condition during service, and therefore denies service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss alone has rendered him unable to follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service, with noise exposure during his tour in Alexandroupolis, Greece. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are secondary to his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no legal basis to award separate schedular evaluations or higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his TDIU award, finding that the effective date of November 1, 2009 is appropriate as it marks the point at which he became unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a Travel Board hearing before a third VLJ who will participate in the decision on these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD attributable to his in-service combat exposure and grants this aspect of his appeal. His claims for increased rating for right shoulder disability and TDIU are remanded.

The Board found no current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further evidentiary development, including obtaining evidence from Social Security Administration and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a lumbar spine disorder, erectile dysfunction, a genitourinary disorder, a gastrointestinal disorder, or an upper respiratory disorder. The evidence is against finding aggravation of pre-existing conditions during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including a VA audiology examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a chronic ear disorder other than hearing loss and tinnitus, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, HTN, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence of a stressor related to service or any nexus between current conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the claimant. Therefore, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The lung disability claim remains pending due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.