Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and granted a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's hearing acuity was found to be no worse than Level IV in the right ear and Level III in the left ear, warranting a 10% disability rating.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus did not start during service and is not related to noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a cervical spine disorder. The claim for new and material evidence regarding his low back disorder was reopened but ultimately denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied them on the merits. The evidence does not establish a link between the veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal concerning the veteran's entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for tinnitus from July 18, 1991 to November 3, 1998. The claim of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 24, 1999 is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and a social and industrial survey to assess the veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions and whether they are related to service. The case is therefore REMANDED for further action.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking the veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus disabilities to his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The right eye disability claim is not related to service, and the left knee disability claim is pending based on new evidence submitted since previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of his right ear hearing loss. The case must be returned for a VA examination and readjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and hyperacusis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

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

The veteran's Meniere's disease, which includes left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, is linked to his service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The veteran's left ear hearing loss is not considered to have worsened during service, and thus service connection cannot be granted. For tinnitus, there is no current diagnosis attributable to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining verification of service dates, scheduling VA examinations for respiratory, ear, and psychiatric conditions, and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the other claims due to lack of evidence or conflicting theories.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, which represents a complete grant of the benefit sought on appeal. The veteran's claims regarding a deviated nasal septum and right thumb are remanded due to outstanding service medical records.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus did not have its inception during service or within one year of his discharge from service. The preponderance of evidence is against the veteran's claim.

The veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and adjudication of increased rating claims for hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner will assess whether his PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.