Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, including inservice noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent, precluding any higher rating.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to noise exposure or hearing loss from his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for lumbosacral strain, service connection for PTSD, and service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The decision also noted that VA treatment records from September 2006 relating to surgery on his cervical spine are not relevant to his current claim for an increased rating for his service-connected disability of lumbosacral strain.

The Board found that the veteran's ruptured right eardrum with bilateral hearing loss is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus, and the claim for a right eye disability was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the appellant's current conditions are as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. The claim to reopen the previously denied chondromalacia of the left knee was denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of entitlement to any additional disability evaluations.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability are not related to his military service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability due to a lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and left ear otitis media are not related to his active service. Therefore, these claims have been denied.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to any service-connected disability.,The veteran's death did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum disability rating of 10 percent, and the claim for separate ratings for each ear is denied. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability currently has a noncompensable evaluation.

The veteran's tinnitus disability is already rated at the maximum allowed under VA rating criteria, and no separate ratings for each ear are warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including head injury, back disability, shoulder disorders, foot injuries, eye disorder, heart disorder, lung disease, psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, asbestosis, COPD, cervical spine disorder, hemorrhoids, tinnitus, and loss of teeth are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his service. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions were incurred during service due to noise exposure from weapons firing. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, while residuals of cold weather injuries of the lower extremities were also denied as there is no evidence suggesting a connection with service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and finds that these conditions are not related to his military service. As such, the claims for service connection for both conditions are denied.