Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation, and no change in hearing acuity during service. The examiner opined that his current hearing loss was more likely related to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right elbow injury. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cold injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been denied as there is no current disability found to be related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or current disabilities related to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or maintaining employment for which his education and experience would otherwise qualify.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities, finding no current diagnosis of this condition in the medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected vertigo warrants a 30 percent disability rating, considering his symptoms of recurrent episodes of dizziness and occasional staggering.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and an increased rating for left ear hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus was reopened, but the evidence does not establish a direct link between in-service noise exposure and current tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss of the left ear was denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, including separate 10 percent ratings for each ear. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hearing loss in the left ear remains pending.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is not service-connected, as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service and there is no evidence linking it to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II or any other incident of service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for tinnitus due to new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of tinnitus being related to service.

The Board denied initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in June 1969, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not warrant such evaluations based on the applicable rating criteria at that time.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand disability, tinnitus, and a right knee disability. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, facial skin blemishes, and a prostate disability; entitlement to an increased rating for epidermophytosis; and entitlement to a compensable rating for malaria. The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is attributable to service and was granted service connection. The claims for anal fissures, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for left knee/leg disorder, right knee/leg disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a chronic condition during or within one year after service, as well as the absence of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed due to his death.