Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities for hearing loss, tinnitus, or perforated tympanic membrane and its residuals. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 8, 2004 for the award of service connection for tinnitus as there was no earlier formal or informal claim and no liberalizing regulation in effect at that time.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to the veteran's service-connected lymphoma.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied both claims.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting a total rating based upon individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board finds that there is no basis for an effective date earlier than April 13, 2006, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found no evidence of tinnitus in service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board determined that it was not aggravated by service and thus granted presumptive service connection.

The veteran's bilateral tinnitus is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service and concluded that the current conditions are not related to military noise exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability present during active military service or within one year after separation. The VA examiner could not resolve the etiology of the veteran's current tinnitus without resorting to mere speculation.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to service, including exposure to combat noise. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus disorders are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling an audiological examination to determine if the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure. The issue of service connection for anxiety disorder and insomnia is held in abeyance.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no competent medical evidence showing current disabilities or in-service incurrence of these conditions. The Board also deferred consideration of the low back disability and lung disorder claims pending completion of further development.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic retinopathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and end stage renal disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II. The veteran's conditions are found to be the result of his active service.