Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for prostate cancer was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service. The claim of service connection for tinnitus remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 3, 2006, for the grant of service connection for diabetes type II. The Veteran did not file a formal claim prior to this date and there is no evidence indicating that he sought benefits within one year after separation from active duty.

The Veteran died with a combined disability rating of 70% due to macular degeneration, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran did not meet the requirement of having been rated totally disabled for at least 10 years immediately preceding death.

The Veteran's recurrent tinnitus is found to be related to his active service, specifically the noise exposure he experienced during his military service. As a result, the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his active service, including in-service acoustic trauma. As such, the appeal is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The claim for new and material evidence for bilateral hearing loss was also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum 10 percent disability rating, and there is no legal basis for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating of hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for further development, including medical opinions on the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD, hearing loss disability, and tinnitus were granted effective March 22, 2001.,The Veteran was awarded a TDIU effective July 12, 1999.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service, while his tinnitus cannot be linked to any specific incident or condition. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but not for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss, right ear were denied as there is no legal basis to assign separate or higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and low back disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred. The Veteran's PTSD was rated as 70 percent disabling throughout the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss during service or within one year post-service. The current hearing loss is less likely related to military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

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 decision also resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition. The tinnitus claim is remanded as additional examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Board denied DIC benefits as the service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and tinnitus, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions and insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar strain (claimed as low back pain, claimed as secondary to service-connected residuals of fracture, left femur, with left knee strain) and tinnitus. The claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for disability resulting from residuals of fracture, left femur, with left knee strain was also denied.

The Veteran likely has tinnitus that is attributable to her active military service, and the Board finds service connection for tinnitus is warranted.