Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and headaches, including as secondary to tinnitus, were denied. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 40 percent since June 7, 1978.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of November 6, 2001 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran's current tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his military service, including exposure to noise during combat in Vietnam. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance (RH) was denied because she is not considered to be in 'good health,' as her non-service-connected conditions exceed the required threshold.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and an increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The veteran's appeal on the merits has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the neck were denied as there is no evidence that he filed an application to reopen his claim prior to October 9, 2001.

The veteran does not have sigmoid polyps that are the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service. The Board finds that a medical examination was not warranted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case and another opportunity for a Travel Board hearing. The issues include service connection for tinnitus, an ear disability (other than tinnitus), and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for migraine headaches and a prostate disorder, finding that he is not entitled to an initial separate 10 percent rating for tinnitus in each ear due to the maximum schedular rating already assigned. The issue of a higher rating for migraine headaches remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including presbyopia, arthritis in hands and feet, tinea versicolor, thoracic spine condition, cervical spine condition, and tinnitus. The claim for an increased evaluation for sinusitis was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for seizure disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and residuals of a left leg injury due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions in service or continuity since service.

The veteran's tinnitus and bronchial asthma are both found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus arose during active service and continues to exist, warranting service connection. However, there is no evidence of right ear hearing loss in service or after service until 2003, and the VA examiner opined it was unlikely related to military service. The claim for left ear hearing loss remains pending as new and material evidence has not been received.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The decision found no legal basis for an increased rating for either condition and denied service connection due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinnitus is being remanded due to conflicting statements regarding the onset of his tinnitus and the need for a new VA examination.