Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have tinnitus that is causally related to military service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for reopening service connection for lumbosacral strain and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss are all pending. The decision is mixed, with some issues granted and others not.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for anxiety disorder, hearing loss, and sinusitis. However, it found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence received after a previous supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for Eustachian tube dysfunction and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA regulations.

The Board finds that there is no evidence showing a current disability of left ear hearing loss or tinnitus due to service, and the gap in treatment between separation from service and January 2002 preponderates against finding continuity of symptomatology. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and there is no evidence of a left leg disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service.

The veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 17, 2002 for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the law does not allow an earlier effective date than when the claim was filed.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the veteran's claims, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board found that the veteran's current right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are as likely as not due to noise exposure in service, including during combat. As a result, the claim for service connection was granted.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to decide the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's tinnitus is found to have resulted from noise exposure during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a service-connected bilateral hip disorder.,Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disorder, as it was incurred in service.

The Board found that the veteran's current tinnitus was not incurred during active service and is not causally related to or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The veteran's right knee disability was not aggravated beyond its natural progression during service, and there is no indication that a left knee disability developed as a result of his right knee disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.