Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The decision concludes that it is less likely than not that these conditions are due to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus to the RO for additional development.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the Veteran did not seek treatment for these conditions until approximately 20 years after separation from active duty. Therefore, the claims for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus were denied as not established by service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma. The Board also found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 29, 2005, for the grant of service connection for PTSD and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence that he filed a formal or informal claim before this date.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar and schizophrenia), and left ankle strain. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

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 aggravation, and that any current hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is remanded due to lack of recent VA medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure resulting in current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as they are rated at 50% combined, and none of them individually rate at 60%. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran is unlikely to be unemployable due to his hearing loss and tinnitus alone.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, Optical Neuritis, Bilateral Hearing Loss, and Tinnitus. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year post-service, and concluded that they are not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a Board videoconference hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for right jaw disability and headaches, but denied service connection for ear condition (tinnitus). The Veteran's right jaw disability is found to be related to his military service. His headaches are not considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including verification of in-service noise exposure and any potential Agent Orange or other environmental exposures.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus. The decision is pending further action as recommended in the remand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable due to PTSD, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical evidence, including an audiometric examination and opinion. The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be evaluated based on the new evidence.