Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, and right ear hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus is pending due to conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.

The veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA vocational rehabilitation folder and arranging a new examination to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the relationship between the veteran's tinnitus and his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as well as whether the tinnitus is related to any other conditions or events in service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Board also found no causal link between current hearing loss or tinnitus and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of acoustic trauma during service and the earliest medical records showing these conditions are more than half a century after discharge. The Board also found that the veteran did not provide good cause for failing to attend an examination scheduled to determine if his current hearing loss was related to service.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development of his medical and employment history.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no medical evidence establishing a nexus between his current disability and active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to separate schedular 10 percent disability ratings for his service-connected tinnitus was denied as the current regulations prohibit such action.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a skin disorder and an increased evaluation for rhinitis.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying active military, air or naval service and therefore cannot be granted basic eligibility for VA compensation benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a medical nexus between these conditions and military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a dental disability, PTSD, and erectile dysfunction under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied. The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities was also denied.

The Board finds that the appellant's currently demonstrated hearing loss, which meets the standards of 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, was incurred as a result of acoustic trauma during his ACDUTRA service and grants service connection for hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding no competent evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining reports of any tests conducted in conjunction with the August 2004 VA examination and a copy of the letter advising the veteran to report for a VA examination with an ENT specialist. The veteran's claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and hemorrhoids, finding that the veteran's current conditions are as likely as not related to his military service. Service connection was denied for disability manifested by Candida albicans due to lack of evidence showing its onset in or aggravation by service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is due to acoustic trauma in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected tinnitus and his request for service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.