Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective January 7, 2010. His tinnitus remains at a maximum of 10 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and low back strain with degenerative changes and instability, and bilateral sciatica are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The other conditions are also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for kidney disorder, left ear hearing loss, left ear tinnitus, and eye disorder (secondary to diabetes mellitus) as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link between the conditions and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service and credible lay and medical evidence did not support a finding that they began in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected tinnitus, finding that the current schedular evaluation adequately addresses his disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as his reports of continuous symptoms since service are not credible and there is no medical evidence linking his current tinnitus to his military noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and Meniere's disease. The claim for new and material evidence to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were all found to be related to her service. The Board granted the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have onset during service and is granted service connection.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a VA examination to address the etiology of his peripheral neuropathy and thoracic spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran experienced non-combat and combat-related acoustic trauma during active service, resulting in current hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The Board also found evidence of a thoracic spine injury related to aircraft ejection seat training, leading to current disability.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and therefore could not be presumed to have had their onset in service. The VA examiner opined that the current audiometric findings are consistent with normal aging effects rather than noise-induced hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are all service-connected.,These conditions were diagnosed during or shortly after active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no competent evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's tinnitus claim will be reconsidered after these developments.