Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including scoliosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, major psychoneurosis and hypochondriasis with manifestations of functional back pain, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for tinnitus, PTSD, and left leg arthritis. The claim for left leg arthritis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral eye disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus did not become manifest during service or are otherwise related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not have a direct relationship to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The Board also noted that the gap in medical records between service discharge and first reported symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus strongly suggests these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for hypertension due to withdrawal. Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are not related to service or noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred during service and there is no credible evidence linking it to a service-connected disability or an in-service event, injury, or illness. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has received a withdrawal request from the appellant's representative, thus dismissing the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss based on the evidence of in-service acoustic trauma and current hearing loss.

The appeal was withdrawn by the appellant before the Board promulgated a decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection claims related to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and flat feet with secondary back disability.

The Board remands the issues of an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and a higher rating for right hand shrapnel wound residuals to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further development.

The claim for separate compensable ratings for tinnitus in the right and left ears is denied as there is only one schedular rating of 10 percent allowed regardless of whether it is perceived in one ear or both ears.

The Veteran was granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and assigned a noncompensable initial rating. Tinnitus was also granted with an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher rating is available.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial evaluation of vertigo with bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, claimed as Meniere's Syndrome, was denied. However, a separate compensable rating for tinnitus since June 10, 1999, was granted.

The claim for service connection for a stomach disorder was denied as new and material evidence has not been presented.,The application to reopen the claim of service connection for a stomach disorder is denied.,PTSD was granted based on a diagnosis related to an in-service assault, which meets the criteria for service connection.,The application to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder is granted; however, the claim for service connection for a back disorder is not met.,Service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence that it is related to service or any incident therein.,The application to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or continuity of symptomatology. The claims for PTSD, lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome and sciatic neuropathy, and cervical joint and disc disease are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded to the RO for further development, including a medical examination.