Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus qualifies for a single 10 percent disability rating, regardless of whether it is perceived in one ear or both ears. Therefore, separate ratings for bilateral tinnitus are not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, as evidenced by normal audiometric findings at separation from service and no persuasive medical nexus evidence indicating a link to service.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, in and of themselves, do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is less than total.

The veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is granted as incurred in service due to exposure to acoustic trauma. The claims for tinnitus and squamous and basal cell carcinoma are remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bronchitis, and hearing loss. Service connection was granted for tinnitus based on in-service noise exposure.

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

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, is denied. The maximum schedular evaluation allowed by law and regulation has been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for bilateral tinnitus, finding that only a single 10 percent rating is authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise on whether the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his exposure to excessive noise over a prolonged period of time during service. As such, these claims have been granted.

The RO assigned a 50 percent rating for PTSD effective from January 26, 1999.,The appellant withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of PTSD prior to the issuance of a decision.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the law does not allow separate evaluations for bilateral tinnitus and therefore denied the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent disability rating is appropriate under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected tinnitus, rated at 10 percent, is not entitled to a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for a separate evaluation in each ear.

The Board found that the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no competent evidence linking the current disorder to his military service.

The veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment is denied as his visual impairment does not meet the required criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is likely due to noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.