Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical history.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for right knee chondromalacia, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus were all denied. The Board found that there was no nexus between the current hearing loss and service, and no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology to service for either hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability of tinnitus and noting the Veteran's in-service noise exposure training but concluding that there is not sufficient evidence to link his current hearing loss or tinnitus to service.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, specifically exposure to loud machinery and firing of 40 mm guns during active service. Additional VA treatment records will also be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it was incurred during active military service. The right elbow and right foot fracture issues remain unresolved.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. As a result, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's motion for revision of the February 2001 rating decision based on CUE was dismissed without prejudice to refiling.,The Veteran's motion for revision of the May 2002 rating decision based on CUE was also dismissed without prejudice to refiling.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus in the right ear for VA purposes, and thus denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus were not linked to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and low back disorder due to lack of current evidence of a hip disorder, but granted service connection for low back disorder based on direct service connection. The decision did not address the Veteran's claim for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, with the latter condition not being linked to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than June 30, 2004 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a TDIU based on service-connected PTSD are denied as there was no pending claim prior to that date.

The Veteran currently suffers from tinnitus, but the evidence does not support a finding that this condition had its onset during service or is otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim will be remanded as it requires additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no legal basis to assign higher schedular ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA audiology examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including lower back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease, heart condition, hypertension, closed head injury residuals, hepatitis, syncope (fainting), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran died of malignant melanoma, a condition not service-connected. His death is not considered to be due to any service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.,There is no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities and his military service.