Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability within one year of separation from service or during service. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions are less likely than not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right upper forearm and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated during active duty and is not caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service. The claim for reopening of the hypertension claim was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis with spinal stenosis as secondary to the veteran's service-connected arthritis of the left knee. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, while his left ear hearing loss is not. The back disability claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or association with service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Bilateral tinnitus is considered incurred during active service due to exposure to noise without ear protection. Service connection for PTSD is not warranted as the overwhelming preponderance of medical evidence does not support a current diagnosis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was previously denied because there was no current left ear hearing loss, and the right ear preexisted service without aggravation. The claim for tinnitus is pending as a VA examination is needed.

The veteran's appeals for service connection and higher ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has also found that the veteran sustained a fracture of his right fifth toe in service, which is now considered service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for tinnitus and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant any increase in disability ratings under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current disabilities are not related to his in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection was granted for tinnitus as it had its onset during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for PTSD. The issues of service connection for a skin disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and lumbar radiculopathy were also not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a VA audiological examination. The veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are currently under review.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in service, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his active military duty. The VA examiner found that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely than not caused by or a result of acoustic trauma during service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for varicose veins and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection based on direct evidence.

Your claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been resolved as they were granted in an October 2007 rating decision.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that could be linked to these conditions.