Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a result of noise exposure during his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such during service or within one year post-service. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not report any symptoms related to these conditions until many years after service, and concluded that they are more likely due to occupational noise exposure rather than military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination reports, failure to consider continuity of symptoms after service, and lack of consideration of SSA records. The reopened claim for residuals of a right leg and right knee injury is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to military noise exposure, with the evidence being in equipoise as to whether these conditions are service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss disability is so severe that it renders him unemployable, meeting the schedular requirements for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus was granted, with the effective date set at June 27, 1994.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. The case is therefore REMANDED for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service exposure to noise, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted. The decision on bilateral hearing loss will be remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an audiometric examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to acoustic trauma during his period of service, and the Board finds that it was incurred in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and tinnitus due to inadequate development of medical opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of these conditions. The VA must obtain a new examination with a medical doctor to address whether his service-connected anxiety disorder or TMJ syndrome caused or aggravated his hypertension, and whether his TMJ syndrome or any other service-connected condition caused or aggravated his tinnitus.

Service connection for a left knee disorder, bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during military service.,The VA examinations did not find any medical relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, specifically exposure to excessive noise. His claims for other conditions are denied as there is no evidence of current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and SSA records.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's appeal of the claims for service connection for a left eye stye and right ankle strain has been withdrawn. The remaining service connection claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.