Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, concluding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU, but further examination and review of his VA rehabilitation records are needed to determine if he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus require additional development, including scheduling an examination to determine if he meets the criteria for a hearing disability under VA standards and whether his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, tinnitus, and hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's initial, compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's fibromyalgia, recurring rash, blisters, lump in the back of the neck, unusual skin growths, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) are presumed to be due to service during the Gulf War. The other conditions do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the initial ratings assigned for a skin condition and PTSD were also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the January 1988 rating decision that denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder is not applicable as it does not involve service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development and process at the RO.

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

The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are related to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service. The hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence linking it to his period of military service. The initial diagnosis of tinnitus occurred after he left service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service, and his tinnitus claim cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeal for these claims is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, while the claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, but after considering all evidence of record, including the veteran's statements about experiencing ringing in his ears since service, the Board finds that the veteran's tinnitus is more likely than not attributable to service. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied.