Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise trauma and a head injury in service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to noise exposure during his active military service, and thus grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for additional examination and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have not been found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a new VA audiological examination to determine if his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board finds that service connection for tinnitus is granted, as the Veteran's subjective complaints of ringing in his ears are supported by his military occupational specialty and current symptoms. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for an eye disorder and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during active duty. Right ear hearing loss was also found to be related to service, while the left ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether any current hearing loss disability and/or tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are likely due to noise exposure during active service. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or by being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective November 30, 2005. The claim for service connection for tinnitus has an effective date of November 30, 2005. A TDIU rating was granted effective March 31, 2000.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied by operation of law as he does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations. The claim for an increased rating for tinnitus in excess of 10 percent evaluation is denied, and there is no legal basis for assigning separate schedular 10 percent disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus. The Veteran's claim for initial compensable rating for lumbar strain remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus. This includes obtaining VA medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering whether any current conditions are related to military service or other factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for vertigo or tinnitus, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's current left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and is therefore denied. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding that his bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus are related to service.