Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations. The Board found no legal basis for a higher rating, as there is no provision for separate ratings for bilateral tinnitus or for assigning a separate 10% rating for each ear of tinnitus. For his right ear hearing loss, the Veteran's non-compensable rating was upheld as he did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the numeric designation assigned to his audiometric test results.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar degenerative disc disease, neck pain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. Service connection was granted for a distorted left great toenail with an initial evaluation of 0 percent effective January 2006.

The Board found that there is no evidence of tinnitus in service and the Veteran did not experience hearing loss while in service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's tinnitus was less likely related to his service, as it is not consistent with noise exposure and the separation examination showed a normal whisper test. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during service, were not otherwise linked to his military service, and denied service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions did not originate during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on the cumulative effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no medical evidence linking the current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right ear tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no medical evidence showing a direct link to his military service. The preponderance of the evidence indicates these conditions are more likely related to occupational noise exposure after service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.,Service connection for headaches associated with cervical spine disability was granted, but the initial evaluation is only 10% and not more.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities were denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is properly evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's defective hearing in the left ear and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to exposure to acoustic trauma during military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether tinnitus began during service or is otherwise related to service. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as a result of noise exposure during service. Service connection for headaches, including as secondary to the service-connected low back disorder, was denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or related to service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board dismissed the motion for clear and unmistakable error because the moving party did not provide sufficient details about the alleged errors or how they would have changed the outcome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as he does not have current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and his dysthymic disorder was not caused or exacerbated by military service. The Veteran also does not have residuals of a head injury, including blackouts.