Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board granted service connection for right hip and right knee disorders, but denied service connection for a right leg disorder not involving the knee or hip, tinnitus, and a sleep disorder. The claim to reopen for a bilateral arm disorder was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disorders as there was no competent evidence establishing an etiological link between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's service connection claims for residuals of kidney problems, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted based on evidence showing their onset during active military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and a separate compensable evaluation for bilateral tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened and granted based on new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder, right ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, flat feet and bilateral ankle disorder as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or that they were related to the veteran's period of active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss increased in severity during his period of active duty and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found that the veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and granted service connection.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, back injury, hearing loss (right ear), and tinnitus to schedule VA examinations.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during his service, and denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of catarrhal fever, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims to reopen for a right shoulder disorder and left knee disorder were also denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. Additionally, the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of an increased evaluation for anxiety with panic attacks.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence supporting a relationship between his current disabilities and military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of injury to the right jaw and face, to include a dental disorder are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a right arm scar, finding no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of chronic disability during service or within one year of discharge, nor any competent evidence linking current conditions to service.

The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of a nexus between the noise the veteran was exposed to on a regular basis in service and the current tinnitus, and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service due to acoustic trauma from a grenade simulator explosion during basic training.

The Board remands the claim for a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to determine the etiology of the veteran's mental health conditions and their relationship to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's hypertension is service-connected as it was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The veteran does not have tinnitus that can be causally linked to any event or incident of his period of active service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, a chronic left elbow disability, a chronic low back disability, and residuals of a neck injury as there is no competent medical evidence relating any current disabilities to the veteran's active service.