Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The appeal was denied as there is no legal basis for the assignment of an initial schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no competent medical evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran and finding that his tinnitus had its onset during active military service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied service connection for injury to the thumb, index and ring fingers, tinnitus, a left shoulder condition, and a low back condition.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on the Veteran's credible testimony of in-service noise exposure and post-service continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear is granted, while claims for hearing loss in the right ear and tinnitus are denied.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings and increased rating, as well as service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder, was reopened and denied. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.

The Board remands the case for a supplemental medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining the Veteran's service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of any current left ankle disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for mild degenerative changes, bilateral hips and granted service connection for tinnitus. The issue of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease as it was not etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent rating for chronic left knee strain, and separate 10 percent ratings were assigned for cervical and lumbar spine osteoarthritis. The claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and the remaining spinal conditions were denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was incurred in active service, but his left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were not. A low back disorder was also not related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in active service.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.