Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptoms after discharge, nor is there any medical nexus linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that no higher rating is warranted based on the evidence.

The VA has determined that the veteran does not have a service-connected hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The claims for left hip, thigh, ankle, and shoulder disorders are also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service. The VA examiner found no connection between the appellant's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his time in service. As for PTSD, the appellant is currently receiving a 30 percent rating which is the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including any in-service acoustic trauma.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the RO properly reduced his disability compensation award based on changes in his marital status.

The veteran's claims of CUE in the February 1984 and September 1999 rating decisions have been denied. The February 1984 decision granted service connection for residuals of craniotomy with a 10 percent evaluation, while the September 1999 decision separated his single service-connected status-post craniotomy disability into four separate entities (loss of skull, headaches, tinnitus, and forehead scar) and assigned an effective date of August 31, 1993.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the case can be adjudicated, including obtaining medical records from a previous employer and providing notice of the VCAA requirements.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The dental injury claim is pending as additional evidence and examination are needed to determine if it was aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an increased rating for his left knee disorder. The veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions, as there is no evidence linking them to his active duty service. For the left knee disorder, the Board found that the current 10% evaluation adequately compensates him for his symptoms.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim, as there were no complaints of tinnitus in service and it began many years after separation from service. The VA examiner stated that it appeared likely that non-military noise exposure played a significant role in the veteran's current tinnitus and hearing loss complaints.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, sinusitis, and respiratory disability, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions are not related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active service, nor are they related to any period of service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or within one year thereafter.

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 during service or within the presumptive period following discharge. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss is not likely due to the veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has denied all the veteran's claims for service connection, finding no current diagnoses or evidence of chronic conditions related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him permanently bedridden or housebound, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and perforated eardrum were not incurred or aggravated by service. The VA audiological examinations did not show any current disabilities related to these claims.