Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Veteran is currently assigned a 10% rating for tinnitus, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to exposure to acoustic trauma during his military service. The case is being remanded for a VA audiological evaluation to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including acid reflux disease, paraspinal muscle spasms, lupus (fatigue), headaches, tinnitus, and a respiratory disability, all of which are claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service head injury and noise exposure, respectively.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are claimed as service-connected conditions. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted, but his claim for a back disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and left ankle condition were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 20 percent disability rating for lumbar strain myositis but not higher. His claim for an increased rating for his right knee status post meniscal repair and anterior cruciate ligament rupture, with residual pain was denied. Service connection for hepatitis C was also denied. He was denied a compensable rating for bilateral tinnitus and for bilateral, moderate, sensorineural hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and right shoulder disability were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for status post repair of rotator cuff and labral tear and impingement syndrome of the right shoulder but not higher. His claim for hepatitis C was also denied. He was denied a compensable rating for bilateral tinnitus and for bilateral, moderate, sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or injury resulting in current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss in the right ear and tinnitus. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). Additionally, a VA examination is required to assess the current severity of his service-connected hearing loss in the left ear and pulmonary lung disease.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus and granted it. The effective date is set at April 15, 2003, which was the date of his original claim. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also granted with an effective date of April 15, 2003.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no current evidence of the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the statutory presumption of soundness on enlistment had been rebutted by clear and unmistakable evidence in both cases.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at 30 percent from August 13, 2004 to May 9, 2007 and elevated to 50 percent effective May 10, 2007. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and clarification of medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset in active service and is not otherwise shown to be related to his service or a service-connected condition. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records and the Veteran's complete personnel file are needed to properly adjudicate his service connection claims for bilateral flat feet, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a cervical spine injury, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).