Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The Veteran also argued for separate ratings in each ear but was not granted as the condition is considered a single disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of service separation, and is not shown to be causally related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the appellant's tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral eye disability due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus related to service, and his left shoulder and back disabilities are not shown to be due to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left mastoid area are rated at 10 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss is currently noncompensable. The Board found that there was no evidence of moderately severe impairment or any other factors warranting higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied as he does not have the disease. Service connection for PTSD prior to June 17, 2004 is granted at a 50% rating, but no higher. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to that date was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, narcolepsy, a left hand disorder, residuals of a head injury, and Parkinson's disease. The Board found that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder were denied as the preponderance of evidence did not support service connection.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a disability manifested by blisters on hands and feet were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to service or secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a prior informal or formal claim filed before June 27, 2004.

The Board found no evidence of aggravation of the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss during service and concluded that any current hearing loss is not related to service. For tinnitus, the VA examiner opined that it was less likely than not caused or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unfeasible for a vocational goal, and the requested home-based woodworking activity is not necessary to improve his independence in daily living.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service combat-related acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

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

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and a respiratory disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA audiologic examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his in-service dental trauma or asbestos exposure, and thus could not establish service connection.