Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including exposure to artillery noise. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are supported by medical evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, are not shown to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 29, 2008.

The VA has denied the claim for an earlier effective date for granting service connection for tinnitus, as the earliest possible effective date is August 9, 2006, when the appellant submitted his original claim.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, including noise exposure. As a result, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination of his service connected disabilities, and determining whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his period of active military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his combat noise exposure. The preponderance of the evidence does not support the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for hearing loss and there was no medical evidence suggesting a link between current tinnitus and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of current disability. The other issues were not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has already been assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The Veteran's current diagnoses of an eye disorder, right inguinal hernia, and skin disorder are not supported by the evidence.

The veteran's request for a separate 10 percent evaluation for each ear of his service-connected bilateral tinnitus was denied because the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 6260 has already been assigned.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus, whether unilateral or bilateral, is already assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are service-connected due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection may be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss. However, the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and is therefore service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.