Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the appellant's employment history and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and tinnitus, finding no evidence to support these conditions during his military service or as a result of any in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus did not begin during service and is not related to any in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral tinnitus is causally related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a back disability or tinnitus that is attributable to military service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, resolving all doubts in favor of the veteran.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they are not sufficient to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were first clinically manifest many years after his discharge from active service in January 1956, and there is no competent evidence showing a direct relationship to disease or injury in active service. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of tendonitis of the knees, a back disorder with muscle spasm, tinnitus, removal of a tooth, or headaches that are related to service. As such, these claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the hips, back, knees, and fingers due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions and concluded that they were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right thumb and for blurred vision and loss of balance, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has determined 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 within one year after separation from active duty. The VA audiological examinations have shown significant hearing loss in both ears but do not indicate a direct link to service.

The veteran is seeking an effective date earlier than June 14, 2002 for service connection of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The Board will consider whether the September 1992 rating decision denying service connection was made in error (CUE).

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a failure of the veteran to attend a scheduled VA examination and because the RO did not present his file to an appropriate examiner.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and posttraumatic head injury (claimed as headaches, vertigo, and depression) due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral defective hearing and chronic tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically his exposure to aircraft noise. Service connection is granted for these conditions.