Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and addendums are inadequate for addressing the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The case is being remanded to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's tinnitus underwent an increase in disability during service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus as recognized by VA standards. The evidence did not establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic ear disability during service or within one year after separation. The veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the earliest date of claim was October 18, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for respiratory and joint pain disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims were based on direct evidence rather than presumptive exposure to a specific agent or illness.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. As such, his claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, while disabling, do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, manifested by degenerative disc disease, is not due to a disease or injury incurred in service.,There is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current bladder condition to any event or incident of his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's tinnitus is likely due to his active service periods at Incirlik AB, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service and rejecting any causal relationship between current disabilities and military noise exposure.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for tinnitus effective June 10, 1999. The veteran's skin disorder claimed as chemical burns and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher evaluation for tinnitus. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim filed before August 27, 2001. The claim for a separate evaluation for each ear of tinnitus was also denied as the rating criteria do not allow for such a division.

The VA determined that the veteran's currently manifested tinnitus did not occur during his military service and is not related to any in-service noise exposure.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his cervical spine surgery, have resulted in a permanent loss of use of both lower extremities and require the use of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair for mobility. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and migraines as residuals of head trauma. The conditions are found to be related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss or tinnitus disability for which service connection may be granted. Additionally, there is no evidence of hypertension in service and it was not shown to be related to service.