Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disabilities in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a link between left ear hearing loss or tinnitus and military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus. However, the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim as there is no competent medical evidence or opinion indicating that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is REMANDED to allow for this development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of current disability or a link to military service. The claim for PTSD was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown during active duty service, within one year of active duty service, or for many years after active duty service. Therefore, the claims are denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss was denied. The RO also denied service connection for PTSD, but granted the Veteran new evidence to reopen his previously denied PTSD claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between current disabilities and service or any service-connected conditions. The right knee claim is remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection. The initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right-sided hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. For his knee disabilities, the Board has determined that separate ratings of 10 percent are warranted for instability in both knees.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory/pulmonary disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no competent evidence to support the assertions that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to determine if they preclude all forms of gainful employment.

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 tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of tinnitus is December 2, 2005, based on the submission of a private audiological report from Dr. Fliegelman.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum available schedular evaluation. The appeal for an increased evaluation is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his active service. The Veteran was granted service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence of a nexus between the current disability and service.

The Veteran's left herniorrhaphy scar is manifested by a one by 20 centimeter painful scar and has been rated as 10 percent disabling.