Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disorder, a colon disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the veteran's active duty service.

The veteran's PTSD was granted an increased initial rating of 70 percent, effective June 29, 2006, and the Board found that since July 21, 2008, his PTSD has been productive of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis as not being incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The veteran's major depressive disorder was found to be manifested by no more than impairment of short-term memory, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board finds that the veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is more likely than not attributable to his in-service noise exposure during military service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and hepatitis C due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a total disability rating beginning October 1, 2003, but not earlier. The claim for an effective date prior to February 11, 2003, for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD was denied.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD, L5-S1 spondylosis and spondylolisthesis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied increased ratings or service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a broken jaw, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim for the broken jaw, and there is no indication that any current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board finds that service connection is warranted for tinnitus based on the veteran's acoustic trauma during his period of National Guard/Reserve service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his active service, but he was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for multiple joint pain, a back disorder, and other claimed conditions as the evidence did not establish that any of these disabilities were related to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and psychiatric disorders were granted, while all other claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were dismissed due to a lack of timely substantive appeal.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ear hearing loss, and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The veteran's tinnitus was rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating.

The veteran's bilateral tinnitus is service-connected, but his claims for bilateral hearing loss and a left knee disorder are denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and an anxiety disorder as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within a reasonable time thereafter, and the current conditions were not related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, respiratory cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a respiratory disability manifested by colds, and a gastrointestinal condition manifested by indigestion were denied as there was no evidence of these conditions being incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of current disability. The claim for PTSD was remanded due to the need for a VA examination.