Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including exposure to noise in Vietnam. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there was no evidence of hearing impairment during service and both conditions developed many years after service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of onset or progression of hearing loss while in active duty, and no mention of tinnitus or hearing loss in any records, including service medical records. The July 2003 VA physician's opinion regarding causation is considered too speculative.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically noise exposure during active duty. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between any inservice noise exposure and current hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The veteran's claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability (arthritis), left knee disability, residuals of a left hand injury with tremors, and degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claims for increased ratings are also denied.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for service-connected residuals of a neck injury with degenerative changes to the cervical spine, effective from September 26, 2003. The veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the VA audio examination conducted in October 2003 does not sufficiently address whether the veteran's current tinnitus is related to military noise exposure. The case is therefore being remanded for another VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no medical evidence of a nexus between the veteran's tinnitus and his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence presented since the final denial supports these claims.

The Board finds that the veteran is likely as not to have residuals of hepatitis due to service, and grants this claim. Service connection for tinnitus is denied.

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

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a ruptured left eardrum, or jungle rot to his period of active service. As such, the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, tinnitus, left shoulder disorder, and left ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and examinations.