Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not attributable to his time in service. The claim for a left ankle disorder was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his service. The veteran was not provided proper VCAA notice regarding disability ratings and effective dates.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his military service. However, the VA has not provided a VA examination to determine the current nature and extent of these conditions or their etiology.

The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA criteria and insufficient evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability with ear infections and tinnitus remain on appeal.

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

The Board found no evidence of tinnitus during service or within one year post-service, and the VA examiner opined that the veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board finds that the reduction in the appellant's disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 20 percent to a noncompensable rating was proper and procedurally sound. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence of record supporting restoration of the previous 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's tinnitus is as likely due to noise exposure during his active service or associated with his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the August 1998 rating decision denying service connection for tinnitus was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, as there was no evidence of acoustic trauma or a link between military service and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a relationship between the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, leading to denial of both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, specifically noting significant post-service noise exposure. As a result, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and additional development is required.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain was denied, as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted an evaluation greater than 20 percent. The tinnitus claim was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VCAA notice and an opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

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 or within one year post-service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for asbestosis.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of tinnitus during service or after service, and thus the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.