Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing due to the appellant's request.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for service-connected PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, while his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was granted. The effective date for the PTSD grant is March 27, 2007 to December 1, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, which effectively resolves the Veteran's appeal. The claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine is remanded as there remains a justiciable issue regarding the appropriate rating and effective date. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and depression were not incurred or aggravated by military service. Specifically, there was no evidence showing a current disability related to in-service acoustic trauma, and the Veteran did not present any persuasive evidence showing he had disabilities manifested by either tinnitus or depression.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and heart condition. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is considered to have started during active duty, while his hearing loss was not shown at the time of his July 2009 VA examination but he had previously worked as an accountant with difficulty hearing in large groups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg and neck shrapnel wounds, hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service combat or injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD and bilateral pes planus, do not render him unemployable as his education and occupational experience allow for substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The VA determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further medical development regarding his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found that the Veteran's current cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders were not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss) do not meet the threshold minimum percentage requirements for TDIU due to their combined disability evaluation of 60 percent. However, the case is being remanded as there are insufficient records on file to determine his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his active service and granted service connection for it. For his bilateral hearing loss, the Board found that the evidence did not support a higher initial rating as there were no more than auditory acuity levels II in the left ear and IV in the right ear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his active service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current diagnosed tinnitus is the result of a disease or injury in service, and his claim for service connection has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of the right testicle, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no clinical confirmation of these conditions.