Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the appellant is already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus, and thus no further increase in rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to service-connected PTSD, and the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and pes planus with bilateral foot strain have been granted. The remaining issues on appeal are addressed in the decision summary.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service injuries. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to VCAA notification issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the veteran's current left knee, tinnitus, and otitis externa disabilities and his military service. The veteran needs to provide information about any medical treatment he received for these conditions since separation from service and must undergo VA examinations to determine if he currently suffers from these disabilities that are related to his active duty.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board will now consider whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty.,The veteran's ear fungus was not present during service or for many years thereafter, and it is not linked to any incident of service.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including requesting additional evidence from the Center for Research of Unit Records and contacting the Army Reference Branch. The veteran is also to be scheduled for an audiological examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of filariasis, right spermatic cord and lymphangitis of the left arm, hearing loss in the left ear, and bilateral tinnitus as there is no competent evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending requests for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for obtaining service personnel records and arranging for examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus to his service, including noise exposure. Therefore, it denied service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, but a higher rating of 50 percent is granted due to exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the VA examination did not establish a link between current hearing problems and military service. The veteran's claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and post-traumatic stress disorder due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending issues regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal is currently on hold while additional evidence is gathered.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate compensable evaluations for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus, finding that only a single evaluation is assignable under current VA regulations.

The veteran is granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and a rating of 50 percent for PTSD, effective from the date of the decision.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as a result of his own abilities and the lack of available jobs, despite his qualifications.