Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to head trauma and noise exposure in service, thus establishing service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding noise exposure during service.

The Board found no evidence of a back disability, tinnitus, or hearing loss during service. The current conditions were not shown to be related to service and the claim was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for psoriatic arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for psoriatic arthritis.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, but new evidence was received that may reopen his claim for a low back disability. The veteran is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if he has these disabilities, their likely etiology, and whether they are related to his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus. The Board has determined that a VA examination and medical opinion are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current tinnitus, including whether it is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran developed hearing loss in his left ear during active duty and this condition continues to the present day. However, there is no evidence of aggravation by service for his right ear hearing loss or tinnitus. As such, the claim for service connection for these conditions are granted for the left ear but denied for the right ear and tinnitus.

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

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year post-service. The VA examinations did not support a link between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine the relationship between the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, including any civilian employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between his current conditions and service. The preponderance of the evidence supports denial of these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic ENT infections.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension are denied. The claim for a neck injury/disorder is granted with the reopening of the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin cancer, and bilateral knee disability, were not incurred or aggravated by his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability are related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied as the conditions are rated at their highest level of 10 percent under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the relationship between service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, requiring further clarification from the examiner.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and peripheral neuropathy were denied. The Board found no current evidence of these conditions, and thus could not grant service connection. For the right ankle fracture, a higher initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent was denied. For the left femur fracture, an initial compensable evaluation was also denied.