Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner concluded that it was less likely than not that the veteran's current hearing loss and occasional tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service from 1945 to 1948.

The veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on a personal assault during active duty. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss of the right ear and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to noise. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are the result of noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for aggravation of a preexisting personality disorder and service connection for GERD. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or a positive nexus to service.,The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right foot disabilities were also denied, with the Board finding that the current evaluations are adequate based on the medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to December 18, 2003. As a result, an effective date earlier than this date is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including PTSD, Major Depression, Tinnitus, Left Trochanteric Bursitis, and Right Hip Disorder (including hip and knee/leg disorders), are not established as being related to active service. Therefore, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service. The VA examiner opined against the veteran's claims.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to July 20, 2005, for the award of a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability. The veteran had been gainfully employed since at least November 1999 and his PTSD was productive of significant occupational impairment as reflected in his current 70% schedular evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and an eye disorder, and granted service connection for PTSD at a 50 percent disability rating. The veteran's claims of exposure to noise in service were not supported by the evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a back, neck, and shoulder injury, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and hydrocele. The Board found no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including head injury, headache disorder, vision impairment, neck disorder, back disorder, and tinnitus, as there is no medical evidence of current diagnoses or a causal link to military service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current tinnitus to his active military service. The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus associated with his active military duty. The claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to new and material evidence.