Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it is related to his military noise exposure. However, there is no evidence linking his current tinnitus to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently demonstrated episodic tinnitus in his right ear is due to disease or injury incurred during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The claim for Parkinson's disease was reopened, but not granted.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current residuals of frostbite of the feet, hypertension was diagnosed during service and is not related to service, hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown by current medical evidence, and PTSD was not diagnosed. The claim for PTSD will be remanded due to lack of verification of stressor events.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the lack of available service medical records, and a VA examination is needed to determine if he has sufficient hearing loss and tinnitus to meet disability criteria.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that the current 10 percent rating is appropriate under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the last supplemental statement of the case, and a VA examination is needed to determine if the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service.

The Board has determined that the claimed upper and mid-back injuries with chronic daily pain, vertigo (dizzy spells), excessive tingling in extremities and head, intermittent diplopia (blurred vision), and intermittent head numbness are not proximately due to or the result of service-connected head trauma.

The Board found no evidence of current right ear hearing loss or tinnitus related to service, and denied the claims for these conditions.,There is no evidence of Hepatitis C in service. The veteran's diagnosis was made many years after service, and the claim was denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss. The veteran does not currently have diagnosed tinnitus related to service, and there is no medical evidence indicating that any possible tinnitus began during or was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, with the effective dates being fixed in accordance with the facts found.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 26, 1998 for the assignment of a combined 90 percent rating for service-connected disabilities was denied as there was no evidence showing entitlement to such increase prior to that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, cold injury residuals, and residuals of a concussion. The RO had previously considered these issues but did not reach a final decision.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further review and preparation of a hearing. The issues include service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and reopening the claim for a right hand injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's appeal for separate 10 percent evaluations for bilateral tinnitus and an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of a left hand injury has been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and positional vertigo due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to his service-connected mastoiditis or military service.

The veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD and service connection for tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his passing, and the case is moot.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for tinnitus, residuals of hepatitis, or a prostate disorder.