Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including a statement of the case on service connection for peripheral neuropathy and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board found that the veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found that the veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset during active duty and denied service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and depression. The appeals were based on direct evidence from service records.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus and determined that it is at least as likely as not due to acoustic trauma in service, granting service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the veteran. The VA examiner determined it is as likely as not that both conditions were incurred during service due to noise exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or symptoms during service. The post-service medical records indicate that the disabilities began many years after service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of his appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in his right ear and tinnitus, finding no current disability as defined by VA regulations. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for ventral hernia repair was also denied.

The Board has determined that a timely substantive appeal was not filed with the claim for service connection for tinnitus, as of August 2004. Therefore, the appeal is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and an earlier effective date for tinnitus were denied. The decision also granted service connection for tinnitus, effective from May 25, 1976.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor can they be presumed to have been incurred in service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already in effect.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military duty, including noise exposure during service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be service-connected. The claim for PTSD is denied due to lack of verified in-service stressors.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely the result of noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a disability manifested by hearing loss or tinnitus due to disease or injury incurred in service. The veteran's current conditions are not linked to his period of active military duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have residuals of a left eye injury or tinnitus related to service. The evidence shows no current disability for either condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was not established.,Service connection cannot be granted for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence of a current disability, and the veteran's claimed hearing problems are not linked to his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations and thus, his claim of service connection for hearing loss is denied. The tinnitus claim will be remanded to obtain National Guard service medical records.