Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports the Veteran's testimony that his tinnitus began in service and has continued since.

The Board has remanded the case due to a discrepancy in the Veteran's statements regarding tinnitus and his February 2005 VA examination. The Veteran needs another examination at a more convenient location with an examiner competent to render a medical diagnosis.

The Board found that the May 1979 rating decision, which denied service connection for tinnitus, did not involve clear and unmistakable error. Therefore, an earlier effective date is not assignable for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of reopening his service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that no new and material evidence was received since the last final denial in May 1998.

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 has determined that the appellant's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining Army Reserve service records and scheduling a VA audiological examination.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, tendonitis, hypertension, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims of PTSD based on in-service personal assault were not substantiated.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports granting service connection for tinnitus, as the Veteran consistently reported experiencing it immediately following his in-service cervical spine injury and currently experiences disability due to tinnitus.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence attributing the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ear drum perforation to his military service. Therefore, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including noise exposure in Vietnam. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral high frequency hearing loss was also denied due to his failure to appear for the scheduled VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, as evidenced by the lack of in-service complaints or findings of hearing loss or tinnitus. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are more likely due to civilian noise exposure, presbycusis, and/or some other etiology.

The Board denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a cardiovascular disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The VA found no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The Veteran's claims have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate VCAA notice and missing medical records.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, specifically acoustic trauma from gunfire and explosions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 7, 1941. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be proximately due to his service-connected PTSD. His PTSD is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus has been denied.