Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and bilateral tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for tinnitus due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the veteran's left ear disorders, including chronic otitis media, hearing loss, and tinnitus, are related to his participation in VA aquatic therapy in October 2000. The RO should also address a claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for left ear tinnitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions did not have onset during or as a result of his military service.

The veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he attributes to in-service acoustic trauma and medication. The case is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, a 10 percent rating. The Board finds no legal basis for assigning a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, finding that he did not have an employment handicap and thus did not meet the criteria for basic entitlement.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10% has been assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no competent evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and noise exposure in service. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, allergies, eye disability, right foot disability, and low back injury. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service. The VA examiner found that the veteran's hearing loss is more likely due to natural progression over time rather than service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 60 percent, and he meets the threshold requirements for a total rating based on individual unemployability as of February 1999. The veteran has been found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus and left knee disability were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for a higher initial evaluation for right knee patellofemoral syndrome is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions within one year post-service. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely than not related to his time in military service.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the issue of service connection for tinnitus can be adjudicated on the merits. The veteran's claim will be remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, a back disability, and PTSD have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.