Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent prior to February 23, 2004 and at 40 percent from that date. His tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The left ring finger fracture residuals are rated at noncompensable, as is his left tympanic membrane perforation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no current disability of headaches, right ear hearing loss, or tinnitus related to service. The veteran's testimony regarding his symptoms was not considered sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disability meeting VA criteria or linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease (claimed as circulatory problems), degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and generalized annular bulging at L3-L4 and L4-5, post-traumatic stress disorder, bronchitis, knee disorders, headaches, and hand coordination problems, were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The veteran's claims are denied as they do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent, is denied as the maximum disability rating of 10 percent is authorized under VA regulations.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected tinnitus was denied as the maximum available rating of 10 percent is already assigned.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, nor was a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The decision is based on lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's disease, which the veteran claimed as vertigo. The condition was found to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and chronic tinnitus, as well as increased evaluations for PTSD and bladder dysfunction, are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The case will be returned to the Board once these issues have been addressed.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and tinnitus is denied, while a later effective date of September 17, 1968, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his combat exposure. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back problems in service contributed to his current low back disability, and therefore grants service connection for a low back disorder. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an increased disability rating for his service-connected tinnitus, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for service-connected tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent rating is the maximum available under current regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent rating was appropriate under current regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are considered to be due to noise exposure during active duty.