Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2005

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including severe headaches and arthritis, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and concluded that his psychiatric disability is not related to service. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the veteran's PTSD and other service-connected conditions. The claims will be reconsidered in light of any new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding an increased evaluation for bilateral tinnitus, and the Board has dismissed the case without prejudice.

The VA determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches being related to his military service.

The Board found that the medical evidence did not indicate a link between the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hypertension, as well as his application to collaterally attack the final December 1998 rating decision that continued a 10 percent evaluation for seborrheic dermatitis. The issues of entitlement to increased compensation for maxillary sinusitis and anxiety disorder are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has requested additional service medical records from the National Personnel Records Center for the veteran's active duty period with the Air Force. The appeal is being remanded to allow for this information to be obtained.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence associating current tinnitus with his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of mustard gas burns to the lower extremities, residuals of shrapnel wounds to the back, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The Board found no current diagnosed conditions that could be linked to service.

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

The veteran's compensation benefits were properly reduced to the 10 percent rate, effective April 13, 2003, based upon his incarceration.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a current diagnosis of tinnitus. For PTSD, the Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against his claim for a higher evaluation, as all adverse symptomatology noted on examination was caused by non-service connected Alzheimer's disease. The veteran's right ankle disability remains at 40 percent disabling.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss was incurred in service and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely attributable to acoustic trauma sustained during combat service in Korea, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.