Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The claim for skin cancer was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus that is causally related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred due to noise exposure. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of impaired hearing in either ear by VA standards, and there is no medical evidence linking his current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service and denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be granted as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service, leading to a denial of these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military noise exposure. The preponderance of the evidence supported this conclusion.

The Board finds that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or other causative factors. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma, while his right ear hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service and are not related to a disease or injury in service.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability or tinnitus during service, and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service and no in-service acoustic trauma. The VA examiner concluded it was less likely than not that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were due to noise exposure while in the military.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA audiology examination to determine if the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature, extent and etiology of the veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection will be remanded for further adjudication.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not due to his active duty service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for depression, finding no legal basis for a higher evaluation or service connection on secondary basis.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VAMC records from May 2002.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. He is currently receiving the maximum rating available for his bilateral tympanic membrane perforations, and factors warranting extraschedular consideration are neither shown nor alleged. The veteran reports that his headaches occur on a daily basis, occasionally requiring him to lay down in bed or on the couch.