Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a shoulder disorder, an eye disorder, a tooth disorder, and a right lower extremity disability manifested by numbness. Service connection was granted for Addison's disease secondary to the veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for residuals of scalp laceration. The evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of current hearing loss meeting VA standards.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability of the left ear, headaches, or chest pain. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus resulted from disease or injury in service, warranting service connection.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for tinnitus was granted, with a rating of 10 percent effective from November 26, 1989. The hearing loss claim remains at noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to aggravation of a pre-existing condition and for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's MOS as a vehicle mechanic exposed him to noise during service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, chronic ear infections, and bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to military service.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to July 23, 2003 for service connection for tinnitus and a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a BVA hearing at a local VA office.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because his timely substantive appeal was not filed within one year of the April 2001 denial and over sixty days after he received a statement of the case. The right ankle arthritis claim is also dismissed as there is no evidence to support service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his time in service, specifically due to acoustic trauma during military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service. However, there is no evidence of tinnitus during or after service, and thus service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. He has not yet been scheduled for this hearing.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service, and denied service connection for dental trauma due to lack of evidence. The claim for dental trauma was also denied.

The Board has granted a separate 10% evaluation for the veteran's right ear tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The compensable evaluation for otitis media remains unchanged.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claim of service connection for hearing loss. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely than not related to service.

The veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities do not preclude him from performing substantially gainful employment, thus denying the claim for TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed back disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus were not present in service or for many years thereafter, and are not shown to be otherwise related to service. Therefore, service connection was denied.