Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's exposure to noise during military service and the relationship between his current hearing loss and tinnitus and such exposure. The appellant is asked to provide information about any audiometric testing conducted, and a VA examination will be scheduled to determine if he currently has hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, so his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure without hearing protection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic tinnitus, a chronic skin disorder (claimed as eczema and/or chloracne), peripheral neuropathy, and Type II diabetes mellitus were all denied. The evidence did not show any in-service or post-service connection to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss were denied. The claim for hearing loss was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss and tinnitus were aggravated by his additional service in the Alabama Army National Guard, especially during 1988.

The VA determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examination for tinnitus and the need to obtain post-service treatment records from Warren AFB.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to exposure to acoustic trauma during his active service, and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision below.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss for purposes of establishing service connection. The Veteran's tinnitus originated during his military service and is presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. However, the evidence does not relate to a disease or injury in service, thus the claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to address the issue of a TDIU rating and issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case on the claim for a higher (compensable) rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be the result of in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, specifically exposure to acoustic trauma. As a result, the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus disability that is related to service, including noise exposure. The Veteran's service treatment records are silent for complaints or diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to service for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that these conditions had their onset or were otherwise related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in September 2005, finding no evidence of a link to service. The Veteran's new claims were again denied as not containing new and material evidence.