Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as they developed during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty training (INACDUTRA), and were not made permanently worse by his military service.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, concluding that there is no medical evidence linking his current tinnitus to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's left shoulder disability was also not found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no medical evidence supporting a link between these conditions and his time in active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of VA records from his treatment in 1955 and 1957 at the Manhattan VAMC. The claims will be readjudicated after obtaining these records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. The preponderance of evidence shows that these conditions did not have their onset during service and are more likely related to aging.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues was granted, with the exception of right knee disability which was withdrawn by the Veteran. The Board found that the Veteran has PTSD and tinnitus due to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to disability ratings in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss and 10 percent for tinnitus have been denied. The maximum schedular evaluation assignable for the service-connected tinnitus has already been assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which may be related to service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he contends resulted from noise exposure during his military service. The case has been remanded due to the need for clarification of the basis for a VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it is a result of noise exposure during his active duty as a helicopter pilot. The back disorder and gout are also service-connected, with the latter being linked to active duty service. The initial rating for ingrown toenail remains noncompensable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back arthritis. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and concluded that the current disabilities were not incurred during active service.

The Board found no evidence of a link between the Veteran's active duty service and his current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, concluding that these conditions are more likely due to other causes in the intervening civilian life.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at the lowest possible evaluation of 10 percent, as per VA regulations. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a panic disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but assigned a 10 percent rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but finds no basis to grant either claim. The evidence does not establish a link between the current disabilities and military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service records and conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee condition, and left knee condition.

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

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