Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already receiving the maximum disability rating available under Diagnostic Code 6260, and therefore no further increase in evaluation is warranted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, as well as reopening a claim for degenerative joint disease of the left thumb.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not warrant reopening of the claim for hearing loss and that there was no medical evidence linking tinnitus to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records from the Sierra Nevada healthcare system. The veteran is also to be examined for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating or service connection. The current manifestations of these conditions are not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is assigned a maximum rating of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for an increased evaluation.

The veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and ear infections, but denied service connection for fibromyalgia.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service or any period of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to bursted ear drums, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral high frequency hearing loss, acne scars, tinnitus, and a shell fragment wound of the left calf, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, migraines, skin disorder, DJD of the feet, lumbar spine DJD, right hip disability, and bilateral shin splints, were all denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if left ear hearing loss existed prior to service or was initially manifest during service or within one year thereof.

The Board found no evidence of chronic tinnitus in service or for many years thereafter, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for tinnitus, finding it related to the veteran's active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's symptoms started in service. Service connection for hip problems is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected diabetes and to determine the nature and etiology of several other claimed disabilities. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.