Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, bronchiectasis with recurrent bronchitis and pneumothoraces, varicose veins of the right lower extremity, and varicose veins of the left lower extremity have all been denied. The RO has assigned a single 10 percent rating for tinnitus, a 60 percent rating for bronchiectasis with recurrent bronchitis and pneumothoraces, a 10 percent rating for varicose veins of the right lower extremity, and no rating for varicose veins of the left lower extremity.

The case is being remanded for further examination and development due to incomplete service medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision is pending further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service connection, as well as his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asbestosis, PTSD, and cysts on the face, arm, back, and thigh. The Veteran was granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome with a 10% rating effective September 3, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or that they are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the lack of available service medical records. The VA will schedule a VA audiological examination to determine if any diagnosed ear disorders are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need to adjudicate his claim of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD, which is inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim. The case will be returned to the Board after these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a proper examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heat exhaustion and tinnitus, finding no competent evidence of a current disability related to these conditions. The Board also found that there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's tinnitus and his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in, or caused by, his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not attributable to noise exposure in service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not causally related to his active service or any incident therein, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus attributable to his period of military service and therefore, denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is about his ability to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board has ordered additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining employment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable rating of 10 percent, and no higher. The appeal for a higher initial disability rating for tinnitus has been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied her claim for service connection.