Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claim for CUE in a December 1985 rating decision that granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent disability evaluation, finding no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus or PTSD. The veteran does not have these conditions and the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not incur hearing loss as a result of his military service and denied both his claim for service connection for hearing loss and his request for an increased disability rating for tinnitus. The highest schedular rating available for bilateral tinnitus is 10 percent, which was already assigned.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The claim for a higher evaluation has been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus did not occur during service or are related to service, thus denying his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including clarification of the veteran's employment history and obtaining VA treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to acoustic trauma during military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is likely related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The preponderance of the competent medical evidence is against a finding that these conditions are causally related to active duty due to jet engine noise exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot hammertoes, and right foot hammertoes. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that is related to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a separate 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus in each ear. The decision also found no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the April 2000 rating decision that granted an increased rating of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the validity of the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. This includes obtaining verification of any claimed stressors related to PTSD and an examination to assess the current nature and severity of his hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of tinnitus, service connection for mental disorder, vertigo, and allergic rhinitis were all denied. The RO found that the maximum schedular rating for bilateral tinnitus had been assigned, and there was no evidence linking any current disabilities to service or service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in an April 1994 rating decision. The veteran did not appeal this decision, making it final. The appellant is seeking accrued benefits based on these pending claims.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's tinnitus with Eustachian tube dysfunction was granted a 30 percent disability rating effective from November 19, 1995.,For the period prior to June 10, 1999, the veteran received a maximum schedular rating of 30 percent for his tinnitus and Eustachian tube dysfunction. The veteran is not entitled to an extraschedular evaluation for this period as it would be impractical given the current criteria.,The veteran's left ear hearing loss was assigned a non-compensable disability rating.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.