Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TMJ dysfunction, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these disorders.

The Board remands the claim for further development, including obtaining Agent Orange examination records and verifying all periods of active service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving all reasonable doubt in the veteran's favor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as there was no evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was service-connected, while his left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were not.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development to ensure compliance with the Martinak decision and VCAA requirements.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the timeliness of his notice of disagreement to a March 2004 rating decision that denied service connection for various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during his period of active service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding it at least as likely as not caused by established in-service noise exposure. The issue of bilateral hearing loss was remanded for further development.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for tinnitus, as the additional evidence was cumulative of previous evidence.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus as it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the conditions were not shown to have manifested during active duty service or within one year of separation, and a current disability was not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus must be granted based on new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for bilateral tinnitus, as there is no legal basis for a higher rating under current regulations.

The Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence does not establish that tinnitus had its onset in service, is otherwise related to the Veteran's active military service, or is etiologically related to a service-connected disability.

The Board grants service connection for tinnitus, as it is associated with the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for a neurological disorder of the upper and lower extremities, headaches, and blurred vision are remanded for further development.

The veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual rate for pension, thus he is not entitled to VA non-service connected disability pension benefits.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as the preponderance of evidence was against a finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service noise exposure.