Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claim, and there is no direct link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for secondary service connection for a right knee disability was also denied.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to procedural defects in the VCAA notice provided.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for a healed left zygomatic fracture and service connection for tinnitus, as secondary to his service-connected healed left zygomatic fracture.

The veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his service-connected tinnitus has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal in June 2004.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for tinnitus, finding that the disability is already rated at its maximum of 10 percent under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied a request for an effective date prior to April 16, 2002 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The claim arose on October 31, 1968 and was first submitted in April 2002.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to his active service. The claim for residuals of a low back injury was reopened due to new evidence received since the December 1972 rating decision, but service connection is not warranted as there is no direct link between the condition and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent disabling, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have tinnitus and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to inservice acoustic trauma, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus qualifies for a single 10 percent disability rating, regardless of whether it is perceived in one ear or both ears. Therefore, separate ratings for bilateral tinnitus are not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, as evidenced by normal audiometric findings at separation from service and no persuasive medical nexus evidence indicating a link to service.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, in and of themselves, do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is less than total.

The veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is granted as incurred in service due to exposure to acoustic trauma. The claims for tinnitus and squamous and basal cell carcinoma are remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bronchitis, and hearing loss. Service connection was granted for tinnitus based on in-service noise exposure.