Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further action consistent with a November 2010 Memorandum Decision from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, which vacated the previous denial and requires that service connection be granted for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development and examination of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board is requesting additional information and evidence to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss disability was permanently made worse during periods of active duty for training. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to incomplete records from a previous VA audiological evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. However, on de novo review, the claims are denied as there is no probative evidence showing a relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that no claim was received prior to January 31, 2006.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and there are no exceptional circumstances to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a more thorough VA examination, as the current one is not adequate for VA purposes.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD are service-connected. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a qualifying chronic disability for his undiagnosed illness claim, but additional development is needed to determine if his multiple joint aches and pains, irritable bowel syndrome, and fatigue are related to this condition.

The Veteran's periodontal disease was found to be service-connected and eligible for VA outpatient dental treatment.,A right knee disability was also found to be service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus must be remanded due to inadequate VA examination, and further development is needed.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and his tinnitus is not related to service. The claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, plantar fasciitis, left ankle condition, left wrist condition, morphea scleroderma, sinus condition, and eye condition are denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically noise exposure while working in engine rooms aboard ships.