Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating based on their combined evaluation of 60%. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities, when considered in association with his educational attainment and occupational background, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, he is denied a TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran did not have tinnitus or sick sinus syndrome with pacemaker for irregular heartbeat due to service and denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluation for peripheral vestibular weakness prior to December 1, 2006 and increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to Meniere's disease were denied. The veteran was granted service connection for Meniere's disease but the RO proposed reducing the evaluation for peripheral vestibular weakness from 30 percent to 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic suppurative otitis media, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of the current rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of whether extra-schedular considerations should be applied. The issues include increased evaluations for scars, headaches, and TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus is less than likely related to service and more likely due to a post-service condition (hydrops disorder). Therefore, service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for an upper back disorder secondary to his left elbow disability and a claim for an increased rating for bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no causal link between these conditions. The veteran's current upper back disorder is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the September 1990 rating decision is not new and material, and therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is not reopened.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically noise exposure during active duty for training. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The veteran's forehead scar and headaches are currently rated, but not in excess of the assigned ratings.,Service connection for dizziness and tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus, diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease, chronic pneumonia, depression and anxiety, Crohn's disease, and osteoporosis are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied the claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of a disability picture that more nearly approximates the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The veteran's claim for separate compensable evaluations for tinnitus in each ear is denied as the law precludes such a determination.

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to 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 Board also found no probative medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's service-connected hearing loss did not cause or contribute to his death due to pneumonia and dementia. The Board found no medical evidence linking the hearing loss to the cause of death.