Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are likely related to his in-service noise exposure. The decision affords the benefit of doubt to the veteran.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned staged ratings of 100 percent effective from June 12, 1991, to July 15, 2002, for PTSD. The veteran is seeking higher ratings for the periods between February 25, 1991 and July 15, 2002.

The veteran's tinnitus was found to be persistent and warranting a 10 percent evaluation since September 20, 1993. The effective date for this grant of service connection is set at September 20, 1993.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches are service-connected.

The Board finds that the veteran's right ear hearing loss is service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The condition was not pre-existing and did not undergo a natural progression during service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to clarify his VA medical treatment history for tinnitus and to obtain any missing records. The case will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vestibular symptoms with dizziness. The claim will be remanded to obtain additional medical records and seek clarification from the VA examiner.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance (RH) was denied due to his obesity and chronic polyarthritis, which exceeded the maximum allowable number of 'debits'. The case is being remanded to adjudicate secondary service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA audiology evaluation.

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

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board determined that the veteran's request for an extension of time to file a substantive appeal with respect to the July 24, 2002 statement of the case was not timely filed.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in this case due to missing medical records. The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further action.

The Board found that the veteran's current right foot and bilateral tinnitus disabilities are not related to his active duty service. The veteran was denied service connection for a right foot disability, as there is no evidence of chronic disability resulting from an inservice injury. For tinnitus, the veteran received the maximum allowable rating under Diagnostic Code 6260 (10 percent), and separate ratings for each ear are not allowed.

The appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed due to notification of withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, tinnitus, and PTSD were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the conditions to active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disorder, memory loss, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to service, while his history of pancreatitis disability is not shown to be due to service. The veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims, including service connection for residuals of cold injury to the feet, hearing loss, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to December 4, 2002.