Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of nexus between these conditions and his period of active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss, tinnitus, or residuals of a right index finger injury to establish service connection. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between current disabilities and military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are so severe that he is unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied a compensable rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's PTSD is now rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted service connection for defective hearing. Tinnitus was not found to be related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and there is insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish a connection between current disabilities and active duty. The veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance of another person (A&A) due to his disabilities, including COPD, CAD with CABG, PVD, hypertension, arthritis, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not show that any disability rendered him so helpless as to require the regular A&A of another person.

The veteran does not suffer from depression which can be related to his period of service.,The veteran does not suffer from chronic low back pain which can be related to his period of service.,The veteran does not suffer from right leg pain which can be related to his period of service.,The veteran does not suffer from bilateral hearing loss which can be related to his period of service.,The veteran does not suffer from tinnitus which can be related to his period of service.,The veteran does not suffer from chronic bilateral foot pain which can be related to his service.,The veteran does not suffer from sleep apnea which can be related to his period of service.,The veteran does not suffer from diabetes mellitus which can be related to his period of service.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current upper respiratory disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus that is etiologically related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided the claim for tinnitus and is remanding the claims for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date for a compensable rating of tinnitus from September 21, 1976 to June 26, 2000.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for service-connected tinnitus, including separate evaluations for each ear, has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 24, 2003 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus as there was no valid claim or diagnosis at that time.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic post-operative left knee disorder, chronic bilateral hearing loss disability, and chronic bilateral tinnitus. The evidence did not support these claims as they were not shown to have originated during active service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, leaving only the issues of an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a low back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied both claims as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or currently. The VA audiology examination could not be completed due to cerumen impaction, and post-service tinnitus was diagnosed after service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for proper notice under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5103(a) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(b).