Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disability are all found to be service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus, including whether it is related to service or pre-existed service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

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 updated VA treatment records and scheduling an audiologist examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no medical evidence showing a relationship between current conditions and in-service noise exposure. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was not addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined to be 70 percent disabling. However, the evidence does not show that these conditions alone prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of ruptured ear drum, including hearing loss and tinnitus. A new VA examination is needed to determine if there are any other residuals of a ruptured eardrum and whether there is a 50 percent or better probability that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his active service, to include his presumed perforated eardrum in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and anxiety disorder. The Board found that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and tooth loss and jaw bone loss as secondary to Type II diabetes mellitus. The claim for tinnitus was denied because there is no medical evidence of a nexus between current tinnitus and service, including any in-service noise exposure. The claim for tooth loss and jaw bone loss as secondary to Type II diabetes mellitus also failed due to the lack of medical evidence connecting these conditions to service.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not begin during service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The evidence does not support a finding of current tinnitus or headaches, nor does it establish a link between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were found to have developed following service.

The Board has determined that the RO's December 6, 1988 decision denying service connection for tinnitus was clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to an omission of a fact in favor of the Veteran. As a result, the claim is granted as if the decision had never been made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the appellant's hearing loss disability on the left ear and tinnitus are not service-connected due to clear and unmistakable evidence showing a pre-existing condition prior to service entrance.

The Veteran's claims for loss of taste, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as evidenced by a VA audiologist's opinion. The current conditions are attributed to aging rather than service exposure.