Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no evidence of their onset or development during active duty. The Board also found that the veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not establish presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis media are not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no current disability and thus cannot establish service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of April 11, 2001, for service connection of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim was filed on that date, and there is no evidence indicating a prior claim or entitlement to these conditions within one year of separation from military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding no evidence of acoustic trauma in service and noting the absence of any medical records linking current tinnitus to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral knee disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance, entitling him to special monthly compensation. He also meets criteria for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment assistance.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain VA outpatient clinic records from Viera, Florida.

The Board finds that the veteran is not entitled to an effective date earlier than February 4, 2003 for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, so his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ischemic optic neuropathy of the right eye were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disorder for VA purposes and denied his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of tinnitus is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for tinnitus, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and back disorder. The claim of service connection for hepatitis C is pending and will be remanded.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issues of bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, malaria, or residuals of intestinal parasites. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 19, 2002 for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to that date.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died while his case was pending before the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart murmur and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for a heart murmur and that there is no evidence of in-service or post-service onset or relationship between the claimed conditions and active duty.