Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2005

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to his military service, concluding that they are more likely due to post-service factors and aging. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a dental disorder for VA treatment purposes due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of multiple joints, and a skin disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The RO has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and hearing loss in the left ear, but denied all other issues on appeal. The case is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran's claims for reopening service connection are pending, and the appeals for tinnitus, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and laceration scar of the upper lip have been granted. The remaining issues remain in a reopened status.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service, warranting service connection. The right toe fungus, bilateral arthritis of the knees, and floaters of the eyes were not found to be directly related to service.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and coronary artery disease have been denied. The VA has assigned a 20% rating for diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully evaluate the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting further examinations.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a medical examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than August 21, 2001 for a grant of service connection for tinnitus is not warranted. The veteran's claim was not filed prior to this date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the relationship between the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to his service-connected left ear otitis media. The case will be returned for further action.

The veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability, and for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine and superior thoracic levoscoliosis are not addressed in this decision. The Board has jurisdiction over the remaining issues: Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is denied as it was not incurred during service or due to a service-connected disability, while tinnitus is granted as it was incurred during active service.

The veteran's increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are granted, with the hearing loss rating at 10 percent effective from November 29, 1996.

The VA denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus must be denied as there is no competent evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the cause of death and service connection issues.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorders, and mental health conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic right ear disorder to include suppurative otitis media. The issue of service connection for chronic right ear cold injury residuals, including a frozen ear, is being remanded due to lack of evidence showing such condition during active service or thereafter.