Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal on all issues, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and migraine headaches.

The VA denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that could support a grant of benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that a VA audiological examination is necessary to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any hearing loss and/or tinnitus found to be present. The appellant's entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and chronic headaches, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board is reopening the claims for service connection for an eye disability and headaches on the basis of new and material evidence, but then remanding them to the RO for further development.,For tinnitus, the Veteran's claim has been granted as his tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for weakness and dizziness has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder is pending, but there is no current diagnosis of a gastrointestinal disability in the record. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) remains pending. Tinnitus was not diagnosed in the record. The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability is also pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rate of SMC on the basis of the need for aid and attendance of another person for purposes of accrued benefits, finding that evidence in VA's possession at the time of the Veteran's death was insufficient to establish a factual need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80%, which meets the schedular criteria for a total disability rating. However, he is not rendered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities alone, as his back problems are also significant and limit his employment opportunities.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions.,For the claim of service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy, the Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if the condition is related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability is addressed in the Remand that follows. The Veteran's tinnitus does not warrant a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, effective October 16, 2007. The Veteran's initial claim was denied in May 1971 but reopened on October 16, 2007, with the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by military service, did not manifest within one year of service, and are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected deviated septum.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's previously denied claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, tinnitus, headaches, sciatica, and ulnar nerve disorder. The Veteran's service-connected back pain syndrome with Grade 1 L5-S1 spondylolisthesis is granted an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as new and material evidence has been received. The claims are granted based on a finding of aggravation.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a respiratory disorder secondary to herbicide exposure, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and to provide him with a new VA examination. The claims will be remanded for these actions.