Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and therefore denied his claims.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, claimed as depression; sinusitis; bladder neck contracture with median lobe hypertrophy; bilateral hearing loss; and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service, nor may service connection be presumed. The Board denied the claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his tinnitus is not related to service. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Board found no evidence of aggravation of pre-existing bilateral hearing loss during service and denied the claim for service connection. For tinnitus, there was insufficient evidence to establish its onset in service.

The Board found that the appellant's current hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo are not causally related to his active service or any incident therein, including exposure to acoustic trauma. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining treatment records from Pensacola VA Outpatient Clinic and a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling an audiometry examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes and thus, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least partly due to noise exposure during his military service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear or tinnitus, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to his military service, resulting in a denial of both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD related to his service, and thus, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, or residuals of cold injury of the feet that are related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred during service and the Board finds that there is no medical evidence linking his current tinnitus to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing these conditions. The preponderance of medical evidence did not support a connection between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his time in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are permanent and total, qualifying him for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35 of the Veterans Benefits Act.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Meniere's disease (dizziness), a spinal cord condition of the neck and back, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for head trauma with residual chronic vision problems and tinnitus. The Board finds that additional development of the record is warranted, including obtaining VA treatment records from Miami-Coral Gables and any private medical records related to his visual symptoms.