Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated as 10 percent rating disabling, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260. There is no schedular basis for the assignment of an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus.

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

The Veteran is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that an updated VA examination and records are needed to fully evaluate the claim.

The Board found no competent or credible evidence linking the Veteran's current tinnitus to his in-service exposure to loud noises due to artillery fire, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor can they be presumed to be related to active duty service. The evidence did not establish a medical nexus between the Veteran's current complaints of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, deviated septum, and scarring of the right tympanic membrane are not supported by the evidence of record. The Veteran's conditions have been diagnosed but do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran seeks service connection for low back, right and left knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding records and incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or continuity of symptoms since service. The VA examination report provided a rationale for this determination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his right ankle disorder and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service. The Veteran's statements regarding noise exposure were considered but insufficient to establish a direct link between his current disabilities and active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As such, these claims are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset in service and has persisted since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing at entry and separation from service. The VA examinations and private medical opinions do not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying service connection, particularly regarding tinnitus. A new VA examination is needed to determine if any currently-diagnosed bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is currently at 60 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to obtain additional VA treatment records, including those from the Veteran's service in Vietnam. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

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