Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. For PTSD, the Board determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 50 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a digestive disorder, a skin disorder, a back disability, and a knee disability were all denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants service connection for this condition. The tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to acoustic trauma in service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus, which he claims was caused by noise exposure during his military service in Vietnam. The case has been remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily PTSD and hearing loss, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress or undress himself, requiring supervision for bathing and attending to the wants of nature, and needing care on a regular basis to protect him from hazards. The decision grants special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

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

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The Board finds no legal basis for an increased rating.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already rated at the maximum of 10 percent, which is the highest rating available under the applicable criteria. Therefore, no higher evaluation can be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability related to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his current bilateral hearing loss and any tinnitus present, as well as whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss with occasional tinnitus due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is a reasonable possibility of causation between the conditions and in-service noise exposure. The veteran's testimony regarding his symptoms was found to be credible.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or jungle rot attributable to service. The veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions. The Board also found no evidence linking current hearing loss to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, and his claim for dental treatment is denied due to lack of in-service trauma. The appeal is therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for an eye condition, hypertension (including as secondary to PTSD), bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board found no evidence of tinnitus during service and could not determine if it was related to noise exposure. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.