Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus is granted based on the evidence of acoustic trauma during military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection and compensation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to December 23, 2005.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a disability of the intestines, a back disability, and bilateral knee disabilities as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board must remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to obtain additional evidence, including an updated audiogram, and a new medical opinion that addresses the Veteran's reported continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board denied increased ratings for cluster headaches, chronic bronchitis, scoliosis of the lumbar spine, and tinnitus, as the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for increased disability ratings and to reopen a claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and found no legal basis for an increased rating for tinnitus, which was already at the maximum 10 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as there was no evidence of tinnitus during or shortly after service, and the only medical opinion on file was against the claim.

The veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and is related to noise exposure during his military service, similar to his already service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, as the applicable regulation precludes assignment of a higher rating.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to VA for further development of the record.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted an earlier effective date of April 16, 1979 for left ear hearing loss.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted an increased initial evaluation of 50 percent for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 50 percent, and an earlier effective date for the award of a 50 percent evaluation is not warranted.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within a reasonable time thereafter, and no competent medical evidence linking them to military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for a low back disorder, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, depression, and a bilateral elbow disorder as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.