Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of an injury to his nose (claimed as a deviated nasal septum) and tinnitus was denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to the claimed injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral eye disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in service, as his pre-existing hearing loss was demonstrated prior to entrance into service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, inguinal hernias, Achilles tendonitis of the right foot, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, thoracic spine condition, erectile dysfunction, bilateral knee condition, and skin condition (psoriasis, warts, abscesses, cysts) have been reopened. Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his tinnitus and left knee condition.

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

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for right leg and left leg disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, both conditions were denied as they are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and right ear tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling (PTSD) and additional disabilities independently rated at least 60 percent disabling. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s)(1).

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran now has hearing loss and tinnitus related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or any other causative factor. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing impairment more likely resulted from post-military aging effects or other unknown etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent since March 29, 2001. The effective date for service connection of tinnitus has been set to March 29, 2001.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's back disorder, heart disorder (to include hypertension), and tuberculosis were not incurred or aggravated by military service. The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting conditions existed prior to his entry into service and did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not result from disease or injury during service, despite his exposure to acoustic trauma. The evidence shows that his hearing loss and tinnitus were not first manifest within one year following his separation from service.

The Board has determined that there is reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, granted.

The Board has established service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service noise exposure. The claims were remanded due to uncertainty regarding the exact nature of the relationship between service and these conditions.