Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to the RO via the AMC for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma, current disability, or a nexus between the claimed disabilities and his military service. The claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded to obtain corroborating evidence of an alleged stressor event.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for tinnitus was denied as the 10 percent disability rating is the maximum schedular rating available under the applicable regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, schizophrenia (previously evaluated as a personality disorder), bilateral tinnitus, low back disability, left ankle disability, chronic kidney failure, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, Type II, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation and no medical nexus to service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to schedule an additional examination with a more accurate post-service noise exposure history.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus as the conditions were not shown to be related to the veteran's active military service.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the chloracne claim, but denied service connection for a skin disorder characterized as chloracne. The tinnitus claim was remanded.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to obtain an opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma and medication taken for malaria.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation for loss of taste, a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, or a higher rating for otitis externa.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, kidney disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and tinnitus as there is no competent evidence linking any of these conditions to active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for tonsillectomy residuals, service connection for tinnitus, and new and material evidence to reopen previously-denied claims of service connection for pulmonary thrombosis, stomach ulcers, a back disability, and schizophrenia.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding no evidence of its onset in or relationship to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are as likely as not due to acoustic trauma in service.

The Board determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a right hip disability rated at 70 percent, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence supporting a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims to reopen for a bilateral hand, leg, and foot disorder were also denied.

The appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability and the current left ankle disability to include residuals of sprain was denied due to lack of evidence supporting continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between the current condition and service.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted, and the ratings for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy were increased to 10 percent and 30 percent, respectively.