Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for tinnitus and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the veteran was already receiving the maximum schedular ratings for these conditions, as per VA policy. Service connection for spinal stenosis was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred during service and denied his claim for increased evaluation of low back strain with degenerative changes. The current rating of 20% is deemed adequate.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a back disorder or tinnitus, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board finds insufficient medical evidence to decide the veteran's claims of service connection for a left foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the veteran's claimed in-service stressors for PTSD and to obtain VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are the result of a disease or injury in service, specifically exposure to acoustic trauma during his time as an ammunition loader. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that neither condition warranted a rating in excess of the current assigned evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or any aspect thereof.

The Board found that the appellant's current hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or for many years following service, and are not shown to be causally related to service. As such, the claims of entitlement to service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as defined by VA regulations. The evidence shows no proof of such disabilities at the time of the November 2006 VA audiometric examination. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the September 2007 VA audiological examination. The RO/AMC is instructed to obtain additional records, including STRs from the veteran's Army service period (November 1950-May 1951), and schedule a new VA audiological examination.

The case is being remanded for further development of the veteran's claims, including verification of his claimed stressors and a VA examination to determine if he has PTSD related to a verified in-service stressor.

The Board found no present hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For tinnitus, the Board noted that there was no corresponding hearing loss and thus could not establish a link to service.

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's symptoms of ringing in his ears since service are related to his exposure to noise during active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.