Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing the veteran has any current left ear hearing loss, left knee condition, tinnitus, left hip condition, or left shoulder and arm condition that are related to service. Therefore, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of current disabilities within one year post-service or a nexus between service and these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's request for a higher disability rating for tinnitus is denied as there is no legal basis to award separate schedular evaluations for tinnitus in each ear.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's in-service noise exposure is sufficient to establish a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, low back disability, degenerative joint disease of the knees, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The appeals were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied both claims.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to separate 10 percent disability ratings for tinnitus in each ear is denied as there is no legal basis upon which to award such ratings.

The veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for his service-connected tinnitus was denied because the condition is already assigned a single 10 percent disability rating under applicable legal authority.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for the veteran to undergo VA examination.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his in-service noise exposure. The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent is already assigned under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent evaluations for each ear for bilateral tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation authorized under all applicable VA regulations has already been assigned.

The veteran's request for separate schedular 10% disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus was denied as the condition is assigned a single 10% rating under applicable VA regulations.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no competent clinical evidence showing a link between his current tinnitus and his military service.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum rating of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes related to hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, or respiratory disorder. As such, service connection is denied.,There is no evidence linking any of these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for tinnitus and residuals of a gunshot wound to the left leg with sensory paresis of the lateral branch, sural nerve. The claim for an increased evaluation for multiple scars was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and concluded that the veteran's current conditions are more likely due to post-service occupational noise exposure. As a result, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied.