Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board granted a separate 30 percent rating for benign positional vertigo and labyrinthitis, effective from the date of the decision. The veteran's PTSD was rated at 10 percent since June 17, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to any in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and entitlement to service connection for Tinnitus are REMANDED due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking his current tinnitus to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected bilateral tinnitus was denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular disability rating available under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to service exposure to noise, warranting service connection.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current back condition, hearing loss, or tinnitus to his military service. The conditions are therefore not considered service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the veteran's in-service noise exposure and reported symptoms of ringing ears during service are sufficient to establish service connection. The issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as the veteran withdrew his appeal.

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 veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The claim for an increased disability rating is denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral tinnitus, to include separate evaluations for each ear, is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has already been assigned under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral tinnitus, to include separate evaluations for each ear, is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has already been assigned under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including audiometric and podiatry/orthopedic examinations to determine the etiology of tinnitus and the severity of flatfoot deformity, right foot. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to assess whether the service-connected disabilities preclude gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and adjudicating the issues of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision regarding tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, bilateral ear pain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus that is causally related to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, but denied his request for a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss based on initial grant of service connection. The case is remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and conduct further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and a 20 percent rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome. The claim for tinnitus was denied, as the evidence did not support its onset during active service. Service connection for low back disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the veteran, and the RO must consider this evidence in its decision on service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.