Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the veteran's active duty service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus, which he contends was incurred while working as an air frame repairman in the Air Force. The RO denied service connection on a direct basis but granted it based on secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Board has ordered remand due to lack of consideration of secondary service connection and need for additional examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The issues of service connection for tinnitus are further addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for heart palpitations is pending as further evaluation by VA is needed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran is likely as not to have this condition due to noise exposure during his military service. The claim of service connection for tinnitus remains pending and requires further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for alcoholic liver disease, tinnitus, and bilateral defective hearing were not granted. Separate evaluations of 10 percent for each ear for tinnitus from February 25, 2000, are denied.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA audiometric and otolaryngological examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and ensuring compliance with notification requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims for service connection for bilateral impaired hearing and bilateral tinnitus.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The veteran was awarded a 10 percent rating for tinnitus effective from June 10, 1999.

The veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back condition are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and expanding the record with relevant treatment records.

The Board is remanding the case for further development to consider whether a formal or informal claim for TDIU was pending prior to September 4, 1997 and if so, whether the veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of all service-connected disabilities prior to that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back disability. The claim to reopen the low back disability was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The ratings for his right knee, left knee arthrotomy, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee were confirmed and continued at 10 percent each. His rating for residuals of a right wrist injury remains at zero percent.

The veteran's claims for increased hearing evaluation and service connection for tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a hearing loss disability due to new and material evidence. However, the claims for tinnitus are remanded as they were not addressed in the previous decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right hip disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence.