Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current disability and service.

The Board has denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to March 11, 2002 for service connection and a 10% evaluation for tinnitus.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a medical opinion assessing his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for a heart disability and tinnitus, but denied hearing loss. The decision also reopened the veteran's claims for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for tinnitus has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the veteran does not have right ankle sprain, stomach problems, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus as a result of service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already receiving the maximum rating of 10 percent, and no further increase in rating is warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic conditions that could be linked to active duty.

The Board found no evidence of tinnitus during service or for many years after service, and concluded that the veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred on September 12, 2005 is denied because the care rendered was not a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than November 8, 2004 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The veteran was found not to meet the criteria for TDIU or DEA benefits prior to that date.

The Board found that the veteran's current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his military service. The VA has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development including an etiological opinion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, sinus condition, bilateral shoulder condition, hearing loss, tinnitus, low back condition, and knee condition as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent evaluations for bilateral tinnitus is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent evaluations for the service-connected tinnitus is denied as no more than a single 10 percent evaluation can be assigned under the applicable regulations.

The veteran's request for a higher evaluation for tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis to assign a separate rating for each ear.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent disability ratings for tinnitus in each ear is denied as the condition is assigned a single 10 percent rating under applicable regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional evidence and a hearing, including a VA audiometric examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, renders him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, TDIU is granted.