Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The VA denied service connection for degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar segment of the spine, finding that there is no link between these conditions and the veteran's military service. The VA also denied service connection for tinnitus.

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

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's tinnitus to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus disability is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that no evidence supported an earlier effective date than November 24, 1993 for right ear hearing loss or February 8, 1995 for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issue of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss remains pending as there is insufficient medical evidence to establish a relationship with military service.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, a rating in excess of 30 percent for atopic dermatitis, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a neck injury due to outstanding medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board found no evidence of tinnitus or bilateral hearing loss within the first year after discharge, and there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, a compensable rating for multiple SFW scars, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or related to service, and denied his claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded for additional audiometric testing.

The veteran was granted service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and did not address his claims for service connection for tinnitus and degenerative changes of the right knee.

The case is REMANDED for the following actions: (1) Request the veteran to report the entire period since his retirement from service during which he has received VA medical treatment and the location of that treatment, and also any other medical treatment he has received since military retirement for any of the conditions for which he seeks service connection. (2) Schedule the veteran for VA examination to document his current hearing acuity and for the examiner to provide an opinion of the time of onset of hearing impairment and whether it is less than, equal to, or greater than 50 percent probable that current hearing impairment results from acoustic trauma in service or any other incident of service. (3) If and only if additional medical records are obtained, consider whether the veteran is entitled to additional VA examinations as provided in 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(4), and schedule any indicated examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorder, bilateral foot disability, and tinnitus are all service-connected. The evidence supports a finding of in-service exposure to acoustic trauma for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are related to loud noise exposure during service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the veteran. Therefore, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Meniere's disease with endolymphatic hydrops, bilateral defective hearing, and tinnitus. The appeal is based on new evidence submitted after a final decision denying the claim.

The case is being remanded due to the need for further action by the Central Office regarding an extra-schedular rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right hand disorder, specifically neurologic impairment, was incurred in service. The claims for an ear disorder (including tinnitus) and PTSD are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral tinnitus is not related to his military service and has been denied.