Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's combined total disability rating remains at 40 percent despite the assignment of a separate 10 percent rating for tinnitus, as his existing service-connected disabilities combine to yield this rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically ACDUTRA from October 1965 to April 1966.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record to determine if his hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities. The Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU prior to June 21, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and vertigo, but did not address his claim for Meniere's disease. The decision also noted that the Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examination. The issues of service connection for various conditions are on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to service, including in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss is less likely as not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of service and therefore denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a current disability for other claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder. This includes obtaining all relevant medical records, including those from his military service, as well as any private treatment he may have received.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted effective January 18, 2005.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether his tinnitus had its onset in service. The Veteran served in Vietnam during a period of war and was awarded combat decorations, which allows for the presumption of service connection based on acoustic trauma from noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the October 30, 2008 decision denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is vacated due to the submission of additional evidence after the decision was issued.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between the Veteran's tinnitus and his active service, including noise exposure during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left ear otitis media with hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the Veteran is already in receipt of a 10 percent rating for his left ear tinnitus, which cannot serve as a basis for an increased rating. His left ear chronic suppurative otitis media has been rated at 10 percent based on audiometric test results.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the claims, including consideration of new medical evidence.