Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability, sleep disorder, and bilateral hearing loss remain on appeal as additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not service-connected.,Tinnitus was incurred in service and the Veteran's low back disorder was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent, as it was found to be aggravated by service.,The Veteran's scar on the left upper lip does not meet any of the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and left knee disorders, as well as tinnitus. The right ankle disorder claim is denied, and the bilateral hip disorder claim is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence of current disabilities that are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to noise during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, hay fever or allergic rhinitis, and COPD or asthma, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 11, 2006 for service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss disability have been granted.

The Veteran was diagnosed with Meniere's disease during a period of ACDUTRA from April 2005 to July 2005. The Board finds it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran developed Meniere's disease during this period and has been continuously symptomatic since then.,The Veteran was diagnosed with tinnitus, which he reported having since his teens. His right ear hearing loss preceded the development of Meniere's disease by several years.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and residuals of a shrapnel wound to the chest. Service connection is also granted for PTSD with an initial rating of 50 percent.,However, the case remains pending for the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no credible evidence to support his assertions of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, and he was granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent for his PTSD from May 15, 2007 to August 31, 2009. The appeal regarding the increased rating for PTSD from September 1, 2009, to the present remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to lack of new and material evidence, concluding that the additional disabilities were not caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The Veteran does not have arthritis, hearing loss, tinnitus, or an eye disorder that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of right foot surgery, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no credible evidence showing that he underwent such surgeries during service or at any time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have insomnia or bronchitis, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and PTSD), hearing loss, tinnitus, a groin disorder, and bilateral foot disability are remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 28, 2004 for the assignment of a 50 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus. The earlier effective date is based on liberalizing regulations that became effective in 1999.