Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that noise exposure in service caused his current condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the veteran's service period and assess the relationship between his hearing loss, tinnitus, and military service. The case will be remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of whether a left knee disorder is related to service or secondary to a service-connected right knee disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for VA examinations and further development of the evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is remanded to consider a claim for increased rating for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including noise exposure during his time as a field artillery cannoneer. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current disability is related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during service. The claim for tinnitus remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no credible evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to missing VA medical records and the need for additional information from the veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of relevant treatment records and for a VA audiologist examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining personnel records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of tinnitus during service or within one year after separation, and concluded that the veteran's current tinnitus is more likely due to post-service noise exposure and aging. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and residuals of dental trauma are not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for residuals of gunshot wound to the left shoulder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus, right foot injury residuals, left 3rd metatarsal fracture residuals, and cardiac disorder are all related to service. However, hepatitis B is not considered a current disability as there is no evidence of an active infection or associated disability. Asbestos exposure is also not considered a current disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The right inguinal hernia claim was not addressed, as the RO did not provide a statement of the case on this issue. The hepatitis C evaluation from July 11, 2002, is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with proper VCAA notice.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to noise exposure during service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as new evidence received since the last final denial relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims. The claim for PTSD remains pending.