Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active duty. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of a scalp laceration was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his exposure to combat noise trauma during service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left great toe disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral tinnitus is granted as the condition was incurred in, or caused by, his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a pre-existing condition worsening during service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of aggravation, while the claim for tinnitus was denied based on the absence of a link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically exposure to acoustic trauma during combat duty in Vietnam. The claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically linked to his service or any incident therein, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran died in October 2005 from intracranial hemorrhage due to, or as a consequence of, hypertension. The RO will need to provide proper notice and obtain a medical opinion regarding the cause of death and its relation to service-connected conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus during service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely the result of his noise exposure in service or associated with his service-connected noise-induced bilateral hearing loss, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

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 active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence does not establish a current disability or link to service. The Board also found no credible evidence of noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities and a need for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and PTSD. The claim for service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis was previously denied in 1955 and is not currently being reopened.

The Veteran's case is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues include reopening his claim for hypertension and seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a foot disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service. The weight of the competent evidence did not demonstrate a causal relationship between current hearing loss and tinnitus and active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for epidermophytosis of the bilateral feet or residuals of cellulitis of the left knee, tinnitus was incurred during active military service, there is no current diagnosis of left foot and ankle disability or bilateral hand disability related to active military service, and new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for a left leg disability including scars and Paget's disease.