Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have developed as a result of in-service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

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

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, bladder disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder due to additional development being required.

The veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be attributable to his period of service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss is September 21, 2004.

The VA determined that the veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to noise exposure during his military service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is already assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and no separate ratings for each ear are allowed.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent rating, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The criteria for a higher evaluation have not been met.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, including combat exposure. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that there is no current disability related to the veteran's service, including vertigo, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease, ischemic chest pain, and hyperlipidemia. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for ear disease.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in January 2003. The Board found that the effective date should be October 1, 2003, as this is the later of when entitlement arose (March 2, 2004) or when the claim was received (October 1, 2003).

The veteran withdrew his appeals for tinnitus, sinusitis, and sleep apnea. The Board dismissed these issues as the veteran requested their withdrawal prior to a decision.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus did not begin in service and is not related to military noise exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus on the basis of aggravation, and assigned a 10% rating effective December 15, 2003.