Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The veteran's hearing loss disability results in Roman numeral designations of no more than III in the right ear and no more than I in the left ear, employing Tables VI and VIa (as appropriate) of the VA schedule of ratings.,The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent rating, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. However, his initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. Service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities remains pending.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, and his service-connected tinnitus is already at its maximum schedular rating. Therefore, both claims are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a jaw injury. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied reopening of the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, psoriasis, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and both knees. The new evidence submitted since the last denial was not considered material.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus during service or for years thereafter, and the veteran's current conditions are not linked to his active military service. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for a chronic acquired psychiatric disability was denied as well.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and tinea pedis. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, skin rash of the chest and upper back, and a disability manifested by chronic urinary tract infections.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no justiciable case or controversy with respect to the claim of entitlement to service connection for strep throat, as it was already granted in full in 1971. For the remaining issues, the veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his right hip scar and chronic tonsillitis.

The veteran's asbestos-related pleural disease does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in the left ear for many years following service, and thus cannot establish service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility for dependents' educational assistance under Chapter 35, as there is no evidence linking any service-connected disability to a vital organ or contributing substantially to the veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for entitlement to an initial evaluation higher than 10 percent for tinnitus due to withdrawal by the appellant. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's syndrome with vertigo are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which may be related to service. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) do not render him unemployable due to their severity. The Board found that the veteran is capable of maintaining substantially gainful employment despite his anxiety symptoms and hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss. The veteran is found to be entitled to a grant of service connection for tinnitus, based on his reopened claim therefor.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have tinnitus as a result of his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder, as there was no verified stressor or supporting clinical evidence. The veteran's claims of other conditions are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to withdrawal by the appellant. Service connection for tinnitus was denied.