Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence does not establish a link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing disability for VA compensation purposes and his diagnosed tinnitus is not associated with his active military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an opinion applying the correct standard for combat veterans regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the initial evaluation for bilateral tinnitus, and as a result, the case has been dismissed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and tinnitus, finding that there is no medical evidence to support either condition or a relationship between them and his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a reopening of the claim and establishing service connection based on in-service acoustic trauma.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and increased ratings for PTSD and residuals of a gunshot wound to the right chest wall were denied. The RO found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current conditions did not manifest during or as a result of his active military service.

The veteran's PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus are all rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, right tibia fracture, and tinnitus) do not render him unemployable as a result of his service-connected conditions alone. His combined disability rating is at least 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for TDIU under VA regulations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no medical evidence or diagnosis of tinnitus and no continuity of symptomatology from service.

The veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and his initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus have been denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of availability of the claims folder during an examination.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral tinnitus and service connection for Meniere's disease were denied. The Board found that the veteran is already receiving the maximum disability rating available for tinnitus under the applicable rating criteria, and there was no evidence to support a finding of secondary service connection for Meniere's disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right foot disorder, or a bilateral knee disorder. The claims are therefore denied.