Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss have been assigned the maximum disability ratings available under VA regulations. The appeal for higher initial ratings is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral ankle disability, and right foot fracture residuals.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and tinnitus were denied. The RO granted service connection for chondromalacia patella of the left knee, but reduced the rating from 30 percent to 10 percent effective June 1, 2004. The RO also granted increased ratings for the veteran's right knee disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence, including confirmation of military service eligibility and medical opinions on the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board also found that these conditions are attributable to service.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they related to his active service. The evidence did not support a presumption of service connection due to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are secondary to noise exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service medical records and requires additional development, including an examination for tinnitus and hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has a post-graduate degree and previous work experience as a dentist.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Board found no etiological relationship between the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities and disease or injury during active service, thus denying both claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran also needs to be provided with VCAA notice regarding his claim.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for residuals of high fever and congestive heart failure during an August 2005 hearing. The claim is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including his period of active duty from December 1970 to December 1976. The claims will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred during active service, nor can they be presumed to have been incurred in service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding no credible evidence linking any current conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his heart disease claim and service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the heart disease claim and dismissing the appeals on hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. However, the VA examiner provided a negative nexus opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus being related to acoustic trauma in service.