Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board finds that the veteran's tinnitus is likely related to service due to inservice noise exposure.

The veteran's applications to reopen claims for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current conditions, given his reported in-service noise exposure.

The veteran meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, but does not meet the criteria for being housebound due to a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service, but his bilateral hearing loss disability was not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of these conditions during service, within one year after separation from service, or that they were related to any incident in service.

The Board remands the case to obtain additional evidence and schedule a VA examination.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of PTSD and the etiology of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after discharge, and no nexus between his current disability and his in-service noise exposure.

The veteran is granted a 40 percent disability rating for scars on the thigh, knee, and calf areas of the right leg as residual to third-degree burns.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus disability, residuals of left knee injury, residuals of left thumb injury, residuals of cervical sprain, and residuals of pseudofolliculitis barbae were not reopened as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no competent evidence to show that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the evidence did not show that these conditions were related to the veteran's military service. The claim for atopic dermatitis and tinea cruris was reopened but not granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, allergies, a left ring finger injury, and headaches.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred in service due to excessive noise exposure (acoustic trauma).

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence and adjudication.

The veteran's claims to reopen for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent has already been assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year of discharge, and no competent medical evidence linking them to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis were not reopened, while the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were reopened based on new evidence suggesting a possible link to noise exposure in service.