Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as his current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and consideration of his claims.

The Board is remanding the claims of increased rating for anxiety disorder, service connection for PTSD, service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease as secondary to anxiety disorder, and service connection for tinnitus due to procedural deficiencies in notification. The Veteran will need a VA examination to clarify his mental health diagnoses and determine if there is a separate diagnosis of PTSD. A VA examination will also be needed to assess the etiology of the Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to May 19, 2007 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied as there was no communication from the Veteran expressing intent to reopen his claim before this date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a grand mal convulsive disorder and epilepsy, as well as his claims for left ear hearing loss and chronic tinnitus. The evidence submitted since the previous denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the failure to schedule a VA examination as ordered by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to these disabilities.

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

The Board found that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest until many years after service and are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and residuals of malaria, finding that the Veteran's reported symptoms are consistent with his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent rating, and his bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent from August 30, 2001 to January 7, 2005. The appeal for increased ratings was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent, effective September 2004. The Veteran is granted an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected headaches and denied a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus due to combat-related acoustic trauma during service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year after separation and the medical evidence does not support a link between service and the condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, all related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of his request for a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, while the scars on his face warrant a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now rated at 10% from May 25, 2007. The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was set at August 29, 2001.