Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board found no evidence of chloracne or tinnitus in service and denied both claims due to lack of a nexus between the conditions and service. The Veteran's exposure to noise during service is conceded, but his reported onset of tinnitus more than 30 years after separation from service makes it less likely that the current conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is not new and material evidence sufficient to reopen. The decision on tinnitus was based on competent medical opinion linking it to service, while the hearing loss claim remains denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations of asthmatic bronchitis and tinnitus.

The Veteran seeks service connection for tinnitus, which he claims is due to acoustic trauma in active service. The Board finds that a VA examination should be conducted to determine the extent and etiology of any current tinnitus.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to exposure to acoustic trauma during active service, and the Board grants service connection for these conditions. The other claims on appeal remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of significant noise exposure during service and both conditions were first diagnosed many years after separation. As a result, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease. The current disabilities were first noted years after separation from service.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to establish service dates and obtain medical records. The issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for pterygium of the left eye, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the hands, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than April 24, 2006, for service connection of right hand condition and residuals of a right foot shrapnel wound with scar. The decision also dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding entitlement to increased evaluation for sensorineural hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus due to untimely filing of substantive appeals.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in proximity to service. The appellant must provide this evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to service, and his peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was not incurred in or aggravated during service. The claim for service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder and granted it. The other issues on appeal were not addressed as they are related to different conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is current disability, symptomatology consistent with the disabilities for some time, and medical evidence at least in equipoise as to whether the current disabilities are related to service noise exposure. The TDIU claim will be readjudicated after a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are related to his service, specifically his combat experiences in Vietnam and noise exposure during his time in the Army National Guard. As a result, the claims for service connection were granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service, and the VA examiner opined that any current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to military service.