Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The case is being remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the veteran's claims.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding it to be related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the evidence showing that his military duties exposed him to loud noises, and he has experienced tinnitus since service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a heart disorder, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after discharge, and no competent medical evidence linking them to the Veteran's period of service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence to support a current diagnosis or a link between his in-service experiences and these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ, service connection for impotence as secondary to his service-connected third degree burn and status post skin graft with residual scars on the left thigh, and service connection for tinnitus.

The claim for service connection for a low back disability is reopened, but additional development is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of any such disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, bilateral foot disorder, neck disorder, and bilateral hip disability are remanded for further development. The claim for tinnitus is also remanded as it may be related to in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for hearing loss is reopened but requires additional evidence.

The appeal is remanded to schedule the Veteran for a Travel Board hearing as to the issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. Additionally, the case is remanded for further development regarding the issue of service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that the maximum disability rating available under the applicable regulations was already being provided.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a current disability or a link to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder, left knee, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The veteran's hypothyroidism and tinnitus were service-connected, while diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a sleep disorder were not.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were related to his service, but PTSD was not.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no competent evidence of a current hearing loss disability, and the Veteran's tinnitus was not shown to be etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis of the bilateral hips and knees, neuropathy of the right and left hand, sleep apnea, and PTSD were withdrawn by the appellant prior to promulgation of a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date prior to October 24, 2005, for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left tibia and fibula, as well as its impact on employability.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but ultimately denied both claims.