Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, including exposure to loud noise during combat. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for service-connected tinnitus is denied as the current rating of 10 percent is the highest allowed under applicable law.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter, and there is no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded to the RO for consideration of additional evidence submitted since the April 2007 statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his military service. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, but denied service connection for Bilateral Hearing Loss and Tinnitus as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Veteran was also denied an increased rating for psoriasis and initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for psoriatic arthritis of the right and left sacroiliac joints.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these previously denied claims. The Veteran's claims are based on direct service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and right ear tinnitus are more likely than not related to his military service, including exposure to loud noise in boiler rooms. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to determine the relationship between his hearing loss and tinnitus and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and bilateral tinnitus are granted as service-connected, while his bowel disorder, plantar warts, moles, and right foot disability claims are denied.