Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as there is no evidence of pre-service hearing impairment and the current hearing loss is related to military noise exposure. However, the claim for tinnitus cannot be granted as there is insufficient evidence linking it to service.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and denied his claim.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The RO denied his request for a higher evaluation as there was no higher schedular evaluation available.

The Board has determined that there are unresolved issues regarding the effective date of service connection for tinnitus, and thus remands the case to allow for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and was diagnosed during service. However, the Board found no evidence of a nexus between his current bilateral hearing loss and service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The examiner opined that any current left eye condition is not related to his right eye disability.,Service connection was also denied for a left eye condition secondary to the service-connected macular scar of the right eye with optic nerve atrophy, as there is no evidence linking this condition to service or the veteran's right eye disability.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic bilateral hearing loss disability and chronic tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his previously denied claim for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found no direct evidence linking tinnitus to service.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal as he withdrew his claim for service connection of a right wrist disorder prior to decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of hearing or ringing in ears during service, and competent medical opinions do not support a link between these conditions and his military service. The post-service noise exposure is considered significant.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board finds that the evidence supports service connection for tinnitus and grants the veteran's claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss disability in either ear for VA compensation purposes, and his tinnitus is not related to service. Therefore, the claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as they are more likely due to natural aging rather than noise exposure in service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of hearing loss of the right ear remains pending as it was withdrawn by the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 7, 2005, for TDIU due to lack of factual ascertainability of unemployability within one year before the date of his claim.

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 found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The claim for higher initial disability rating for PTSD was withdrawn by the appellant.