Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum allowed under current criteria.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure the veteran's claims are properly considered, including obtaining his National Guard service records and scheduling him for examinations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA Social and Industrial Survey to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to work.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions originated during the veteran's active military service due to noise exposure. The Board also found that tinnitus is secondary to the veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and the need for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for a VA audio examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active military service. The claim for PTSD is reopened, but the new evidence does not establish service connection.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiological examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and separate evaluations of tinnitus, finding that a single evaluation for recurrent tinnitus is appropriate under Diagnostic Code 6260. The veteran's defective hearing was found to be due to noise exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his skin cancer.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for tinnitus, finding that the current rating criteria do not allow for a separate evaluation in each ear and that the veteran's claim cannot be substantiated as there is no legal basis for such a claim.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus, which is a single disability entity regardless of whether it affects one or both ears, warrants only a single 10 percent rating. Therefore, separate ratings for each ear are not warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking his current tinnitus to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss began during his period of active service and is related to noise exposure. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorder with service.