Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in service, were not manifest to a compensable degree within one year after service, and are not attributable to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus and his rating for bilateral hearing loss was reduced from 20 percent to 0 percent, effective March 1, 2010. The reduction of the rating is upheld.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that his symptoms began during service and have persisted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Army National Guard treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are unrelated to his military service, including to acoustic trauma sustained during combat. Therefore, these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for hypertension and heart disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his active duty.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to his military service. The issue of service connection for a disorder manifested by imbalance and vertigo/dizziness is remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus should be reconsidered due to the receipt of pertinent service department records. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination and VCAA notice regarding his claim.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus have been denied as his service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. His PTSD and SFWs, left arm disabilities have been rated appropriately.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are considered to be directly related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus. With the resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, service connection is now granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun in service and is granted as direct service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective June 4, 2003. The Board has determined that the criteria for a higher evaluation are not met and has granted TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.