Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The Board finds that the veteran's tinnitus is causally related to service due to combat noise exposure, and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no etiological relationship between the veteran's service and his current bilateral hearing loss, thus denying service connection for this condition. The tinnitus was also denied as it is due to acoustic trauma incurred in service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, and residuals of pneumothorax. The decision found that tinnitus resulted from acoustic trauma in service, but there was no evidence of a current disability related to residuals of pneumothorax or allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy in his lower extremities, bilateral tinnitus, renal insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision also denied the reopening of a claim for a psychiatric condition other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to noise exposure during his military service, and granted this claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during or as a result of his active service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or skin cancer that are related to his military service. The pulmonary disorder claim is also denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus, PTSD, and chronic back and right knee disabilities are all service-connected. The tongue disorder is also considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and the medical records do not establish a nexus between any current hearing loss or tinnitus and military service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have tinnitus and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA audiology examination. The veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as increased initial ratings for right and left foot diabetic neuropathy, will be readjudicated.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the August 2004 VA examiner concluded that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, right foot and leg disabilities. The decision also noted that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. The veteran served in an artillery unit where he was exposed to loud noise.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's in-service exposure to acoustic trauma and his current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, thus denying service connection for both conditions.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the increased rating for tinnitus, and as such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's service-connected conditions, including tinnitus, vertigo, asthma, and spondylolisthesis, have been granted initial evaluations. The highest evaluation of 10% has been assigned for each condition.