Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, a heart condition, degenerative joint and disc disease, lumbosacral spine with disc herniation, L5-S1, and foraminal stenosis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and carpal tunnel syndrome and familial tremors of the right hand.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are denied. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus began in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including torn lateral meniscus of the right knee and bilateral hearing loss disability. The claim for service connection for nerve damage in the left arm was also denied. Service connection for arthritis of the right knee is addressed separately.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, as the current ratings are already at their maximum. The claim to reopen a service connection claim for lumbosacral strain was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, but his bilateral hearing loss is not.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by such service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during service or as a result of service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of bilateral hernioplasties were rated noncompensably disabling. The Veteran did not have current tinnitus or cold injury residuals at the time of his death, and there is no evidence of in-service injuries or diseases that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or injury. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss of the left ear is related to service, while his right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have their onset during or as a result of his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disability with arthritis. The decision also noted that VA failed to obtain relevant medical records from the Naval Hospital in Astoria, Oregon.

The veteran's service connection for postoperative left shoulder bursitis and tendinopathy was granted, with a 10 percent evaluation initially assigned in October 2007. The evaluation was increased to 20 percent effective February 22, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to combat noise exposure during service and his service-connected right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus and his bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to noise exposure during service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the original decision.