Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sensorineural hearing loss, traumatic amputation of the right thumb, hypertension, and tinnitus, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and missing ear surgery records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for PTSD due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right foot injury, tinnitus, hypertension, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of an in-service disease or injury that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board finds the evidence to be in relative equipoise, and service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as likely due to exposure to loud noise during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling an audiological examination to determine if the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining records from 'L&I' and Western State Mental Hospital.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it was present within one year of separation from active duty and is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as the appellant did not serve in the Republic of Vietnam during active military duty. The claims were also denied on a secondary basis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not develop as a result of his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical history.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for right knee chondromalacia, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus were all denied. The Board found that there was no nexus between the current hearing loss and service, and no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology to service for either hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability of tinnitus and noting the Veteran's in-service noise exposure training but concluding that there is not sufficient evidence to link his current hearing loss or tinnitus to service.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, specifically exposure to loud machinery and firing of 40 mm guns during active service. Additional VA treatment records will also be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it was incurred during active military service. The right elbow and right foot fracture issues remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. As a result, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's motion for revision of the February 2001 rating decision based on CUE was dismissed without prejudice to refiling.,The Veteran's motion for revision of the May 2002 rating decision based on CUE was also dismissed without prejudice to refiling.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus in the right ear for VA purposes, and thus denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus were not linked to his active service.