Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the appellant's statements and testimony were not credible, and thus his claimed in-service stressors could not be verified. The service records do not support a diagnosis of PTSD or tinnitus related to service.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and concluded that the veteran's current conditions are more likely due to age-related factors rather than military service.

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

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

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's tinnitus to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for hypertension, depression, and arthritis of the left shoulder. Other claims remain pending.

The veteran's claims for a higher evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete records.

The veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic disability manifested by impaired balance are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as his request for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability. The issues of left hip disorder and low back disability were remanded.

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

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the Newark, New Jersey RO. The claims for service connection are pending and will be addressed after the hearing.

The veteran's tinnitus is likely attributable to service secondary to noise exposure, and the Board finds that the veteran has established service connection for this condition. The heart condition and depression are found to be less likely related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus in February 1979. The RO granted the petition to reopen and granted service connection on June 17, 2003 with an effective date of that day. The veteran argues for an earlier effective date based on a liberalizing law or issue, but the Board finds no such change in the criteria for evaluating diseases of the ear.

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

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

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a personal hearing and obtaining VA treatment records. The case will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

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

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his active service, including exposure to noise during service. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.