Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus and found that the Veteran's right index finger disability was not more severe than a 10 percent rating.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hypertension is service-connected as secondary to his PTSD. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board denied increased initial evaluations for various service-connected disabilities, except for a 20 percent evaluation for limitation of pronation of the left (major) elbow and an increased evaluation from 10 percent to 20 percent for shell fragment wounds, right (minor) forearm.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus was granted, and his disability rating for hypertension was maintained at 10 percent. The claims for an increased rating for migraine headaches and service connection for bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, myopia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was remanded to the RO for further development, including an examination to assess the functional impact of his service-connected disabilities and their relationship to dizziness, headaches, poor balance, and stuffy ears.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The veteran withdrew the appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were remanded to obtain additional evidence, including a medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence supports a link to noise exposure in service.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that any tinnitus disorder was present in service, or that any current tinnitus disorder is related to service or due to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, fatigue, dizziness, and chest pain as these conditions were not shown to be related to the Veteran's active duty service.

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

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have worsened to the point of warranting a 70 percent rating, while his tinnitus and total disability claims were denied.

The Veteran's left ear tinnitus is granted as it is secondary to his service-connected left ear chronic purulent otitis media.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to schedule a VA examination with an opinion based on all evidence of record.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not service-connected, and he was granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD as of March 10, 2003.

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