Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and bronchitis. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that any of these conditions were pre-existing or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a right arm fracture, residuals of a head injury, and loss of teeth. The evidence did not support these claims as they were either not shown to be related to service or due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder, status post transplant. The issue of whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded.

The veteran's appeal for more than a single, 10 percent rating for tinnitus was denied. The claim for TDIU is remanded and will be addressed in the remand that follows.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper notification.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, so he cannot receive a separate rating for it.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that neither condition warranted a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus, body cramping, low back disability, PTSD, and skin disability were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board also noted that his exposure to noise during service was presumed due to his service in Vietnam.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence showing a current disability or a relationship between military service and these conditions.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and tinnitus, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The RO is instructed to provide proper notice under Dingess/Hartman v. Nicholson, conduct stressor verification if necessary, schedule appropriate VA examinations, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination and opinion due to an inadequate previous VA examiner's opinion.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in service or were otherwise related to military service. The VA audiological examinations showed no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus until many years post-service, and the competent medical opinions established no nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is a result of his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's disability compensation benefits were properly withheld to recoup the amount of his separation pay, as required by law.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, with no specific date provided as effective date.

The Board found no current disability for the claimed right index finger injury and denied service connection. For tinnitus, while there is a current diagnosis of constant tinnitus, the Board determined that it was not related to military service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently evaluated at a maximum of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for assigning separate ratings for each ear.

The veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for the service-connected tinnitus is denied as the highest available rating of 10 percent has already been assigned.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service. The VA examiner concluded that the current disabilities are less likely related to service.