Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an eye condition, tinnitus, and hearing loss of the left ear. The Veteran was not granted service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical center records and providing the Veteran with a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The right thumb proximal phalanx fracture and right first toe hallux rigidus are rated as noncompensable, the bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, tinnitus is rated at 10 percent, and PTSD is rated at 30 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is likely due to noise exposure during his period of active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete service records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's lay statements have provided additional information regarding the onset and continuity of his tinnitus, which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's appeals for hearing loss and tinnitus were withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision. The appeal for PTSD was remanded for further evaluation.

The Board is remanding the case to provide corrective VCAA notice and to readjudicate whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the current conditions are not related to active service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no medical evidence of these conditions until many years after service. The only competent opinion addressing the question of a nexus between current diagnoses and service weighs against the Veteran's claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, residuals of a fracture of the left leg, and various knee disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during service or for many years thereafter, and is not related to his active service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, chloracne, and diabetes mellitus were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for neuropathy is reopened but service connection is not granted due to lack of a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the increase in left ear hearing loss during service was due to natural progression of a pre-existing condition, and less likely related to military noise exposure. For tinnitus, there is no evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated by service. Service connection for PTSD remains pending as the Veteran's claim has not been fully adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not eligible for continued REAP benefits due to his status as an inactive member of the National Guard, and did not re-affiliate within 12 months. The claim must be denied based on a lack of entitlement under the law.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they related to any other presumptive conditions. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of hearing loss within one year after separation from service. The claim for bilateral tinnitus is also denied due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus can be reasonably disassociated from his military service and is granted.