Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion regarding whether the veteran's tinnitus is due to or aggravated by any service-connected disorder, including bilateral hearing loss and residuals of right ear mastoidectomy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus did not develop during service or as a result of any incident during service, including noise exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for service-connected tinnitus has been dismissed as he did not file a timely Substantive Appeal.

The veteran's appeal for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied, and his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for left trichaisis is also denied.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, but the Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities alone.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for prostatitis and erectile dysfunction before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but denied left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to noise exposure during active duty, while the left ear hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for a current disability.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for post prostatectomy residuals is pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities for tinnitus, a bilateral foot disorder, or a low back disability. The veteran's claims were denied as there was insufficient medical evidence to support the presence of these conditions during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's TMJ dysfunction, tinnitus, hearing loss, and headaches are related to his inservice dental trauma. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA clinical records of treatment since March 2006, scheduling an audiological examination to determine the probable onset and etiology of hearing loss and tinnitus, and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for PTSD. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen these claims. The Board also found that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his period of active service.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to acoustic trauma incurred in service. As a result, these claims have been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition as secondary to right shoulder tendonitis and also denied his request for a higher combined rating, finding that there was no evidence supporting these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated during service and is not shown to be etiologically related to noise exposure or other incident of active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus did not develop as a result of any incident during service, including exposure to noise. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.