Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, as they result in a combined 60 percent rating. The VA examiner opined that he is unemployable due to these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of special adaptive housing or a special home adaptation grant is denied as he does not have loss of use of one or both lower extremities due to service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are the result of noise exposure during military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, which is the highest available. The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss as there was no legal basis to award separate ratings for each ear.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus is denied as the condition already receives a maximum schedular evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is required to determine the current status of the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as their relationship to service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is able to engage in substantially gainful employment despite his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to exposure to acoustic trauma during his period of active service. Therefore, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, residuals of a neck injury, and residuals of a skull injury are not supported by the evidence. The preponderance of the evidence does not show these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current disabilities, including head and neck injuries and tinnitus, are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension and heart disease, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The respiratory disorder was also not shown to be related to service. Hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to have been incurred during service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus, which he claims was caused by noise exposure during his military service. The case has been remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his tinnitus.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his TDIU benefit, which was granted in April 2004. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the earliest date at which he became unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has ordered additional development of evidence, including a VA examination for hearing loss and tinnitus, due to the significant passage of time since the last examinations. The veteran's claims are remanded for further action.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus related to in-service combat stressors. Service connection was also granted for cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities with a 30% disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus with effective dates of May 13, 2002, and May 16, 2003 respectively. The veteran's claims were reopened due to new and material evidence submitted within one year of the July 2002 denial.