Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and potential new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of its onset in or aggravation by military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss increased in severity during his initial period of active duty, warranting service connection. The tinnitus was also incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and finds no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to his claimed conditions. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The VA granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss with a 10% disability evaluation effective December 1, 2003.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that no evidence supported earlier effective dates or entitlement to increased ratings prior to January 11, 2002.

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 Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including frostbite residuals and hearing loss, do not render him unemployable due to their severity alone.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim to reopen previously denied claims. The Board also found that new evidence submitted by the veteran did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims. For the claim of service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy disorders, a VA examination was ordered due to lack of recent medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus.

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 acoustic trauma or a current disability related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus related to service, and there is no relationship between his loss of balance and any service-connected disability.,Service connection for these conditions cannot be granted as they are not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the August 22, 2001 rating decision that granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent rating. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Meniere's syndrome warrants a combined evaluation of 60 percent, which is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a service-connected bilateral hearing loss, but has granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision is based on the veteran's credible testimony and exposure to acoustic trauma during military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for additional development, including obtaining service medical records from the Army National Guard.