Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and tinnitus are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and hypertension. The cases of right ankle arthritis and left ankle arthritis are being remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review.

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. Service connection was denied for nephritis and encephalitis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities alone render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is already rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and no higher rating can be assigned under VA's rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military noise exposure, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claims for depression, hearing loss, and tinnitus are also addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service-connected Meniere's Syndrome, which began in 1957. The Veteran's hearing problems have worsened over time, with significant improvement noted after he left military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected and he was granted a disability rating of 40 percent for his bilateral hearing loss prior to August 12, 2004. The case remains pending for further review regarding the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for tinnitus is denied as there was no prior claim or intent to file one before May 3, 1995.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss, as it resulted in noncompensable disability ratings under VA criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, GERD (secondary to PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all granted. However, the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred in service due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and eye disorders (diagnosed as age-related macular degeneration, posterior vitreous detachment, and incipient cataracts) were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation from active duty, and the earliest medical evidence of these conditions is dated many years post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, left ankle disability, tinnitus, or right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during active military service.