Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to service, including in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss is less likely as not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of service and therefore denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a current disability for other claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder. This includes obtaining all relevant medical records, including those from his military service, as well as any private treatment he may have received.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted effective January 18, 2005.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether his tinnitus had its onset in service. The Veteran served in Vietnam during a period of war and was awarded combat decorations, which allows for the presumption of service connection based on acoustic trauma from noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the October 30, 2008 decision denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is vacated due to the submission of additional evidence after the decision was issued.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between the Veteran's tinnitus and his active service, including noise exposure during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left ear otitis media with hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the Veteran is already in receipt of a 10 percent rating for his left ear tinnitus, which cannot serve as a basis for an increased rating. His left ear chronic suppurative otitis media has been rated at 10 percent based on audiometric test results.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the claims, including consideration of new medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal on the issues of service connection for a left leg condition, right leg condition and increased rating for right 5th finger fracture has been withdrawn. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for asbestos-related lung disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right arm disability, and a lower extremities disability were denied as there is no competent medical evidence of current disabilities related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of hearing loss, tinnitus, or jungle rot of the hands and feet that are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims must be remanded to determine his status at the time of the claimed injury and to schedule a VA examination for an opinion on whether he currently suffers from bilateral hearing loss and left-ear tinnitus related to his active duty for training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability during the presumptive period. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were more likely due to occupational noise exposure and presbycusis.

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

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, concluding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.