Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The June 1962 rating decision denying service connection for tinnitus with defective hearing is reversed due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The March 2002 rating decision denying reopening of the service connection claim for tinnitus is rendered moot by the reversal.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip strain with moderate degenerative changes to the bone, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to active service. Service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and the Board has resolved the doubt in favor of the Veteran, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding no evidence of chronic disabilities in service or for many years thereafter. The Veteran's lay statements regarding inservice incidents are not sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin disorder (claimed as jungle rot) are all as likely as not related to service exposure. Therefore, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a right knee disability in service and that it did not manifest within one year of separation. The Board also determined there was no evidence linking the current right knee disability to service or to his left foot disability, which is already service-connected. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability secondary to a left foot disability was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and substance abuse were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a chronic pulmonary disability due to asbestos exposure was not granted. The Board found that the evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate this claim. However, the Veteran's entitlement to service connection for tinnitus was established.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including PTSD, tinnitus, and a skin disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining National Guard personnel records and private treatment records.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability in the left ear as defined by VA regulations, and thus denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus was also not shown to be related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with noise exposure during combat. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran received medical care at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma for a condition of such severity that delay would have been hazardous to his health and life. The claim is granted as the criteria for payment of unauthorized medical expenses are met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including whether these conditions are related to his in-service perforated ear drum or noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.