Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board has ordered a remand due to the inadequacy of the May 2006 VA audiology examination, which was used by the Board in denying service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are now being reviewed with additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of claim. His tinnitus remains at a maximum 10 percent rating.

The Board has scheduled a hearing before the RO and is remanding the case for further action due to improper notification of the scheduled hearing.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss disability and tinnitus, which are claimed as service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's military service. Service connection was not granted for residuals of trauma to the left eye as there is no credible evidence that he sustained a facial injury during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as her audiometric results did not meet the threshold for considering hearing loss a disability for VA purposes. The claim for left upper extremity epicondylectomy, status-post ulnar and radial nerve decompression was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is likely due to noise exposure during active and reserve service. The other claims of service connection for low back condition, tinnitus, and migraine headaches are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial evaluation of his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are set at May 15, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to active service, and therefore denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include reopening and denying service connection for low back or lumbosacral spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and neck or cervical spine disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence in favor of the Veteran's contention that his current tinnitus is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The remaining issues of cold injury residuals have been remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and service connection for tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and provide proper VCAA notice. The claim for service connection will be reopened, but the Board will need to determine if new evidence supports reopening based on the provided information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the earliest document in the claims file indicating a claim was received on November 18, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 30 percent. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset in service and is not related to his military noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for tinnitus.