Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board denied the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no competent medical evidence showing that they are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, fibromyalgia, IBS, cholecystectomy, migraines, right knee injury, tinnitus, and other conditions, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to January 10, 2005.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, obesity, acid reflux disability, sleep phobia, and sexual impotence as not being related to the veteran's active service or his service-connected bronchial asthma. The claim of entitlement to service connection for sinus disability on a direct-incurrence basis was reopened but ultimately denied. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus and diabetes mellitus, including as due to exposure to Agent Orange in service, is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis for the assignment of a higher rating.

The veteran's chronic right and left buttocks shell fragment wound residuals, chronic right forearm shell fragment wound residuals, chronic left forearm shell fragment wound residuals, chronic low back shell fragment wound residuals, and chronic tinnitus were incurred in military service.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they were not shown to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board concluded that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral, recurrent tinnitus is already rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent and denied an increased rating.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to obtain an updated medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus, specifically regarding its potential relationship to noise exposure during military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to obtain additional evidence, including a VA examination.

The Board remands the case for further evidentiary development, including obtaining National Guard treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence was in relative equipoise regarding their likely noise-induced etiology during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and sleep apnea as new and material evidence was not received to reopen previously denied claims.

The appeal for a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was remanded to provide the Veteran with an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear or that his tinnitus is related to service. The left ear hearing loss was not compensable.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, a chronic back disability, and a bilateral eye disability as there was no competent evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation, nor any nexus to service.

The Board granted service connection for malaria, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, residuals of frostbite of the left big toe, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease, status post bypass graft. The Veteran was also denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.