Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, and his hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable. The appeal for these issues is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or acoustic trauma. The examiner opined that the current hearing loss is more likely due to presbycusis (age-related hearing decline) rather than service-connected.

The veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and no higher rating can be assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have tinnitus that is related to his military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board finds that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent evaluations for bilateral tinnitus is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for a separate schedular 10 percent rating for tinnitus in each ear is denied as the current criteria do not allow for such ratings.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for each ear for his service-connected tinnitus was denied as the maximum rating of 10 percent is already assigned under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The veteran's claim for separate compensable ratings for bilateral tinnitus is denied as there is no legal basis to award such ratings.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on April 10, 2006 at a private hospital were reimbursed because he had seven service-connected disabilities and the VA facilities were not feasibly available to provide emergency care.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus at the time he separated from service, no evidence of manifestations of sensorineural hearing loss within one year following his discharge from service, and no competent evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no competent and persuasive evidence showing a relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, including exposure to noise. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not attributable to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing a direct relationship between the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his active service. The examiner noted that these conditions are more likely related to noise exposure from occupational and recreational activities after discharge.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and making a formal finding regarding the effect of the other than honorable discharge on the veteran's claims. A VA examination will also be scheduled to determine the current nature and likely etiology of the claimed back disability.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to noise exposure during active duty. The case has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current conditions.