Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his military service. The claim of service connection for migraine headaches is remanded due to a need for additional development.

The Veteran likely has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that are attributable to his active military service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss pre-existed service and was not permanently worsened during service. The Board also found no current tinnitus due to service, nor did it meet the one-year presumption for organic diseases of the nervous system.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of an exceptional disability picture or that the schedular evaluations are inadequate.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for PTSD and a low back disability. The other issues remain denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a need for further development, including additional medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability evaluations for his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was set at June 3, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year of separation from service. The VA examiner found that post-service noise exposure was more significant than in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his tinnitus, as it is already at its maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent. He also does not have separate ratings for each ear due to note (2) in Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with the most likely cause being noise exposure during his time as a heavy machine gun operator in World War II. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a diagnosed bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus during service and finds no evidence to support his claim for service connection. The decision is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, or tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service stressors leading to PTSD, nor is there credible supporting evidence linking current symptoms to service. For tinnitus, while the appellant reported hearing damage from service, no direct link was established between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and duodenal ulcer disease with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), do not render him unemployable as a result of his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's tinnitus is already rated at the maximum schedular evaluation, and his arthritis of the right hand is found to be secondary to a service-connected right hand felon disability. Therefore, no additional rating can be granted for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were reopened, and he was granted increased ratings for PTSD and depressive disorder with anxiety and psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction, as well as a rating for residuals of perforation right ventricle with retained intercardiac foreign body. The claim for an increased rating for muscle groups I and III of the left pectoral region, status post-left thoracotomy, was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to active service. Service connection was denied for a nose or throat condition (claimed as sinusitis) due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be causally related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The psychiatric disorder claim remains pending.